The Institute for Multiparty Democracy (IMD), a civil society organization, has pledged to support the activities of the Assembly of the Republic (AR) over the next five years. To that end, a memorandum of understanding between the two institutions is being prepared, covering the 9th legislature, which began last January.
The commitment was announced by IMD Executive Director Hermenegildo Mulhovo shortly after a meeting with Parliament Speaker Margarida Talapa in Maputo. According to Mulhovo, the meeting marked the beginning of a new phase of institutional cooperation between Parliament and civil society.
“The outcomes of this meeting mainly include strengthening and renewing our cooperation through a memorandum of understanding for the next five years, during which we, as IMD, are also committed to allocating resources to support Parliament in its activities,” said Mulhovo.
According to the executive director, IMD’s support will include developing human and technical capacities within Parliament. Among the priority areas, he highlighted oversight, which he described as essential for the legislature’s effective performance.
Mulhovo also noted that the Assembly has shown a more open and engaging approach toward civil society organizations. For IMD, this openness represents an important step toward strengthening institutional relations and signing future cooperation agreements. He also emphasized the need to deepen the Assembly’s international cooperation, leveraging the experience of IMD’s partner countries such as Ireland, Finland, and the Netherlands.
“We believe it is indeed possible for Parliament to make better use of these partnerships,” he stressed.
In addition to promoting inclusion, IMD wants Parliament to take a more active role in ensuring that all segments of society feel represented.
Concluding his remarks, Mulhovo underscored that enhancing Parliament’s role in representing citizens and promoting inclusion is one of IMD’s main priorities.
“At this moment, the country is undergoing a process of inclusive political dialogue, and we believe Parliament can play a central role in ensuring that no one is left behind,” he concluded.
Source: Mozambican News Agency (AIM)
