| Maputo (Fides Service)- “We call on all Mozambicans to reflect on the social and economic reality in which we live and to assume their duty to choose, by means of elections, candidates able to find solutions to the problems weighing on our society and to improve the standard of living”. This is the message launched by the Catholic Bishops of Mozambique in a Letter entitled: “Justice and Transparency in the Elections”. Mozambicans will be called to vote in Administrative elections on 19 November this year. Political elections will take place next year, also in November.
The Bishops recall that in recent years, since the end of the long civil war in 1992, the country has made progress. Nevertheless there are still some problems which pollute political life in Mozambique. First of all intimidation during the election campaign: “it is urgent, to create and apply concrete measures to prevent these anomalies and guarantee the exercising of democratic rights”.
Other serious problems include corruption, disparity between rich and poor (“a small minority continues to get richer in a non-transparent manner while the poor, the great majority of the people, become ever poorer”), deficiency in the economic development plan (“We live in a country which could become rich but the people continue to live below the poverty line”), education, health (“diffused AIDS is at present a serious problem”), agriculture, public transport and communications.
The Bishops end their message encouraging “all Mozambicans of goodwill in particular those who believe in God to make their elective duty a political manifestation of their faith. We urge all believers to pray that the imminent administrative elections may be a celebration of culture, democracy and peace in our country”.
(L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 28/10/2003 lines 28 words 305)
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