Possibilidades e limites das organizações da sociedade civil como factor de credibilização dos processos eleitorais em Moçambique (2018-2019)

Abstract

Civil Society Organisations are important actors in the democratic construction of a country. Against this backdrop, Mozambique has seen the emergence of several Civil Society Organisations that are active in political processes and, in particular, in electoral processes through their integration into Electoral Administration Bodies and in monitoring elections with a view to their credibility. However, despite these actors being recognised as having potential in improving the quality and credibility of democratic processes, their role has also been identified as having limitations. This study seeks to analyse the contribution of Civil Society Organisations to the credibility of electoral processes and democratic consolidation in Mozambique. The analysis is based on the qualitative method, using semi-structured interviews and bibliographic research. The study shows that, although significant steps have been taken with the involvement of Civil Society Organisations in the main Electoral Body and with the emergence of several initiatives acting in the monitoring of electoral processes, the socio-historical characteristics of Civil Society Organisations and the mechanisms for their nomination in the National Electoral Commission limit their performance in the credibility of electoral processes and democratic consolidation in Mozambique. If, on the one hand, the mechanism of co-optation by political parties used to select members from Civil Society Organisations did not favour their autonomy in the performance of their functions in the National Electoral Commission, on the other hand, the deficient coordination between them (intra-organisational factor) and their relationship with state bodies (inter-organisational factor) greatly undermine their role in the credibility of electoral processes in Mozambique. (TRADUÇAO NOSSA)