Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Maputo (Agenzia Fides) – “We are all called to contribute, as citizens, to the consolidation of democracy, as an important step in establishing the common good.” This is how the Bishops of Mozambique are addressing citizens in asking that they participate in the local elections scheduled for November 9. This is the content of the Pastoral Letter “For free, just, and honest elections,” issued August 25, at the close of the Plenary Assembly of the Mozambique’s Bishops’ Conference.
Recalling the previous interventions in the social life of the country, the Bishops reaffirm their right and duty to “enlighten the earthly realities with the light of the Gospel,” without “indicating exactly for whom they should vote.”
In their Pastoral Letter, the Bishops recognize that the elections of the past show the desire of the people of Mozambique to maintain their young democracy. The Bishops also recognize the will of the people to build a better Mozambique through a restoration of the values of tolerance and mutual respect, values that were lost during the long civil war (1975-1992). This is being translated into the creation of democratic institutions and laws, that since the peace accord in 1992, allowed the country to begin a new phase in its political life. Among these were: the law for elections, electoral organizations, and political parties. There are also the civil society groups (including some promoted by the Catholic Church), that help citizens to exercise their own right to vote. The Bishops say that the elections “are the best expression of democracy, a privileged means for the citizen to exhibit his right and duty to participate in the improvement of his own living conditions and those of his nation.”
However, there are also several negative situations: the verbal and physical violence during the electoral campaign; mistrust towards electoral establishments; increase in the number of people not voting; bias perspectives on the part of many areas of mass media.
In their statement, the Bishops give some guidelines for a free and peaceful election process. Among these is spreading awareness (“so that the people of Mozambique are better informed of their rights, so as not to be subject to manipulation”); finishing the electoral census; a free and honest electoral campaign; and respect for the electoral rules, for both institutions and citizens (the Bishops mention that the vote is private and no one can make another reveal what he has decided in voting).
As far as criteria for voting, the document mentions the importance of the political parties (“because if a party is not democratic in itself, it will not be capable of guaranteeing respect for democracy on a national level”), in choosing “competent, honest, and credible leaders”; in observance of the respect for their opponent during the electoral campaign and in their openness towards dialogue and tolerance. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 11/9/2008)
