Beira reprieved. But is government reversing municipalisation?

Beira cannot be divided without an act of parliament, Jose Tembe, vice minister of state administration, has confirmed. However, the reprieve may only be temporary, because it appears that government is trying to reduce the size of all the municipalities except Maputo. This is unrelated to whether the cities are opposition controlled, and more about transferring significant numbers of people from administrative units which are elected to ones which are centrally appointed.

Sofala Governor Carmelita Namachulua said last week that the division of Beira remains part of the government's plan to restructure all municipalities except Maputo. according to @Verdade (Thursday 26 June, http://www.verdade.co.mz/destaques/democracia/47132)

Last year, parliament passed a law creating 13 new districts. Little noticed, apparently even by parliament, was that some of the new districts included areas which were part of municipalities. Faisca (20 June) reports on the appointment of the administrator to the new district of Lichinga, Niassa. The new district takes in some of the most populous neighbourhoods north of the centre of the city, in areas where the city has been expanding in recent years, including Massangele, Namacula, Assumane, Naluila, Utumwile, Chiulugo and Sambula. Faisca says that, in effect, a second city has been created in the new district.

Although attempts to cut Beira down in size seem part of a broader agenda of tightening central control, there are also growing confrontations between the Frelimo central government and the MDM administrations in Beria and Nampula. Vice Minister Jose Tembe on 23 June accused the mayors of Beira and Nampula of trying to turn their cities into independent countries. (AIM 24 June, citing Diario de Mocambique.) He claimed the two cities were completely ignoring coordination with central government.

And in Nampula, as happened in Beira 10 years ago, there is a battle between Frelimo and the city for control of building which were used as joint neighbourhood offices for both party and city. In Carrupeia the two sides are breaking in and changing locks.

Source: MOZAMBIQUE 264
News reports & clippings, 30 June 2014