The Assembly of the Republic will meet in plenary session on Wednesday, May 14, to elect the members of the Council of State, a political advisory body to the Mozambican President (on general matters), and the National Defense and Security Council, a state advisory body on defense and national security matters.
According to a statement, 12 individuals will be elected by Parliament to serve on the two bodies, with seven joining the Council of State and five joining the National Defense and Security Council. The selection will be based on proportional representation, meaning that only the Frelimo, Podemos, and Renamo parties will be able to appoint members.
The document explains that, in accordance with Article 163 of the Constitution of the Republic, the Council of State is composed of: the Mozambican President; the Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic; the Prime Minister; the President of the Constitutional Council; the Ombudsman; former heads of state; former speakers of the Assembly of the Republic; seven personalities of recognized merit elected by the Assembly of the Republic; four personalities of recognized merit appointed by the Mozambican President; and the second most voted candidate for the office of Mozambican President.
The following members of the Council of State have already been confirmed: Daniel Francisco Chapo (President of the Council); Margarida Talapa (President of the Assembly of the Republic); Maria Benvinda Levi (Prime Minister); Lúcia Ribeiro (President of the Constitutional Council); and Isac Chande (Ombudsman).
Also confirmed as members of the body are Joaquim Chissano, Armando Guebuza and Filipe Nyusi (former heads of state); Eduardo Mulémbwè, Verónica Macamo and Esperança Bias (former presidents of the Assembly of the Republic); and Venâncio Mondlane (the second most voted candidate in the last presidential elections).
In turn, the National Defense and Security Council, according to Article 3 of Law No. 13/2019 of September 23, is composed of the Mozambican President, the Prime Minister, and the ministers responsible for defense, interior, foreign affairs and cooperation, finance, transport and logistics, justice, and the sea, inland waters, and fisheries.
The body shall also include the Director-General of the State Information and Security Services; the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Mozambique; the Commander-General of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique; two individuals appointed by the Mozambican President; and five individuals elected by the Assembly of the Republic.
To this end, Podemos has so far provided the names of its candidates for these bodies, namely António Américo Manhiça for the Council of State and Melba Margarida Fumo for the National Defense and Security Council, with only Frelimo and Renamo yet to do so.
