The Mais Integridade Electoral Consortium, a civil society platform for electoral observation, is taking legal action against the Zambezia Provincial Electoral Commission (CPE) for failing to issue credentials for its electoral observers within the legal deadlines.

According to this platform, 15 days after the request for accreditation of 279 observers, only 45 credentials have been delivered, and the President of the CPE of Zambézia, Emílio M'paga Supelo, claims logistical difficulties in issuing the credentials and does not guarantee that by the date of the vote, all the observers of the Consortium will have been accredited.

"The CPE's position flagrantly violates what is stipulated in the electoral legislation on the matter, which states that 'It is up to the Provincial Electoral Commission to decide on the request for observer status in the electoral process, within five days of receiving the request'," reads the document from the Mais Integridade Electoral Consortium.

Also according to the same document, the failure to comply with electoral legislation puts the credibility of the electoral process in Zambézia at risk, since the presence of observers is fundamental to ensure that the elections are conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

The Mais Integridade Electoral Consortium considers this conduct by the CPE to be unacceptable and reaffirms its commitment to defending electoral rights and promoting a transparent electoral process, urging the Zambézia CPE to fulfill its legal obligations and guarantee respect for democratic principles.

The "More Integrity" Electoral Consortium is made up of the Catholic Church's Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace (CEJP), the Center for Public Integrity (CIP), the Women's Associations of Zambezia (NAFEZA), Solidarity Mozambique (SoldMoz), the Civil Society Learning and Training Center (CESC), the Mozambican Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Mozambique) and the Forum of Mozambican Associations of People with Disabilities (FAMOD).