FRAUD ALLEGATIONS, VOTER REGISTRATION, BUDGET:

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000751 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MZ SUBJECT: FRAUD ALLEGATIONS, VOTER REGISTRATION, BUDGET: MOZAMBIQUE PREPARES FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS REF: MAPUTO 714 ¶1. SUMMARY: Voter registration for the November 19 local elections ended August 4; more than 90 percent of eligible voters have registered. The Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) estimates the elections will cost $15 million. In July, several media outlets reported allegations of false registrations, purportedly aimed at changing political control in the RENAMO stronghold of Beira and the FRELIMO stronghold of Maputo. -------------- 90 Percent Voter Registration and Growing -------------- ¶2. Mozambique will hold elections in its 43 municipalities on November 19, marking the first local election held in 10 new municipalities created by the National Assembly this April (Reftel). A final voter registration effort, July 6 to August 4, aimed at registering those who will reach voting age prior to the elections but after the end of the previous voter registration effort ) March 2008 ) as well as those who did not register previously, or whose registration is somehow flawed. Although minority party RENAMO alleges that voter registration did not take place in some of its strongholds, STAE claims to have registered 9 million people, nearly 90 percent of those eligible to vote. -------------- $15M Election Budget -------------- ¶3. STAE estimates that the municipal elections will cost $15 million, an increase over the 2003 elections, which cost $12.8 million. Donors heavily subsidized previous elections but declined to subsidize the November 19 elections, instead urging the Mozambican Government (GRM) to consolidate the November elections with the 2009 National elections as a cost-saving mechanism. -------------- Allegations of Illegal Registration -------------- ¶4. During the latter part of July, several press articles reported allegations of illegal voter registration. Authorities arrested two men, who, although not residents of Beira, long a RENAMO stronghold, claimed they were brought to Beira and ordered by members of majority party FRELIMO to register there. FRELIMO has made similar accusations, alleging false registration by RENAMO members in the capital city, long a FRELIMO sinecure. The apparent goal of the illegal registration is to take the election away from the party currently in control of the municipality. ¶5. COMMENT. The strength of the donors' refusal to pay for the elections may be tested soon. Direct donor support accounts for nearly 52 percent of the GRM budget; if a GRM budget shortfall occurs, the donor countries will be asked to make up the shortage, even if the shortage was caused, in part, by the cost of the municipal elections. The approximately 20 allegations of illegal registration should not have a significant effect on the elections, since thousands of cross-registrants would be required to shift the outcome of the elections in the two stronghold cities. END COMMENT Amani