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Mozambique Plans Constitution Changes to Pave Way for Peace Deal

Mozambique Plans Constitution Changes to Pave Way for Peace Deal

(Bloomberg) -- Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi announced plans to change the constitution and give political parties more power in the provinces, in a move seen key to reaching a permanent peace deal with the southern African nation’s biggest opposition group.

Under the new laws, parties that win provincial parliamentary elections will be able to select a regional governor, who the president will then need to approve, Nyusi said Wednesday in a television speech. The government will also introduce the position of provincial state secretary, who will represent the state in matters including tax and security.

Mozambique Plans Constitution Changes to Pave Way for Peace Deal

The armed wing of the opposition party the Mozambican National Resistance, or Renamo, fought the government in a 16-year civil war that ended in 1992 and claimed as many as 1 million lives. Fighting flared gain in 2013, and Nyusi and Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama are set to sign a permanent peace deal.

Though the two had planned to sign an accord by the end of last year, Nyusi didn’t comment Wednesday on a new timetable.

--With assistance from Matthew Hill

To contact the reporter on this story: Borges Nhamire in Maputo at bnhamire@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Antony Sguazzin at asguazzin@bloomberg.net, Michael Gunn, Paul Richardson

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