Monday, October 05, 2009

Mozambique: President wont change constitution to get re-elected

Mozambican President Armando Guebuza has pledged if he wins this year's presidential election, he will make no attempt to amend the Constitution so that he could stand for a third term of office.

He was speaking to reporters after laying a wreath at Maputo's Monument to the Mozambican Heroes on Sunday to mark the 17th anniversary of the peace agreement between the government and the apartheid backed Renamo rebels, which as signed in Rome on Oct. 4,1992, AIM reported.

There has been some media speculation that, if the ruling Frelimo Party wins a two-thirds majority in parliament, it will use it to change the constitution, which provides for no person tobe elected to more than two consecutive terms of office as president.

Guebuza categorically denied that he wanted a third term. On the contrary, he had every intention of upholding the current constitution, of which he is the guarantor. "I respect the constitution and I respect the law," he said.

Published by Mike Hitchen i On Global Trends, world news, analysis, opinion
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