MAPUTO, Mozambique, Aug 2 – Mozambican President Armando Guebuza (photo) on Wednesday issued a statement that the next parliamentary and presidential elections will be held on Oct 15, 2014, Mozambican news agency AIM reported.
That is the date on which Mozambicans living in the country will vote and the election for Mozambicans in the diaspora will be three days earlier, on Oct 12, the statement said.
This is because while election day is always a public holiday in Mozambique, in other countries it is a normal working day for Mozambican emigrants, many of whom are unable to take time off work to go an vote at their embassies or consulates, AIM quoted Guebuza as saying in the statement.
It is hoped that holding the elections in the diaspora on Sunday will greatly increase turnout, added the statement.
The National Elections Commission (CNE) had proposed Oct 15, and this date appears to have received the go-ahead from the Council of State, a body that advises the President of the Republic, which met on Monday.
As well as voting for a new president and parliament, on Oct 15, 2014 citizens will also be able to vote for members of the ten provincial assemblies.
– BERNAMA
