The Council of State is a body that advises the President of the Republic. The President must consult with the Council prior to decisions on such matters as the dissolution of parliament, the holding of referenda, the declaration of a state of siege or state of emergency, or fixing the date of general elections.
The membership of the Council includes any former heads of state, the chairperson and any former chairpersons of the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the ombudsman, the chairperson of the Constitutional Council (the highest body in matters of constitutional and electoral law), the runner-up in the latest presidential elections (Dhlakama), and a number of prominent figures appointed by the President and by parliament.
Guebuza announced on Thursday that he is calling a meeting of the Council of State for 29 July, in order to fix the date of the 2014 presidential and parliamentary elections (which should be some time in the first fortnight of October that year).
Although the matter under discussion, the next general elections, is supposedly dear to the heart of Renamo, the opposition party immediately announced that Dhlakama will not attend. Renamo has frequently complained of a lack of face-to-face contact between Guebuza and Dhlakama – yet Dhlakama regularly boycotts all state events where such contact would be possible.
Antonio Muchanga, a member of the Council appointed by the Renamo parliamentary group, claimed that Dhlakama “has not even received an invitation” – no doubt because Dhlakama is currently living in a bush camp in Satunjira in the central district of Gorongosa.
He added that Dhlakama “had not taken office as a member of the Council of State” – but this is merely because he did not attend the ceremony in 2010 where members of the Council were sworn into office.
So once again, Dhlakama prefers to boycott a state body, rather than provide any input.
Post published in: Africa News