Traditional Authority in Mozambique: The Legible Space between State and Community

Abstract

This chapter explores the recent state recognition of traditional authority in postwar Mozambique in general and discusses in particular how legislation was implemented in the former rural war zones and opposition strongholds of Sussundenga District, Manica Province. The context for this recognition of traditional authority emerged from a dominant political concern on how to proceed with decentralization in rural areas of postwar Mozambique. In accordance with postwar constitutional commitments to introduce democratic decentralization, a system of locally elected governments (municipíos) was approved by Law 2 of 1997. In 1998 this law provided for democratic elections in thirty-three urban municípios. As a consequence, the rural areas, where approximately half the population lives, were deprived of the right to vote for their own local representatives. Instead, legislation addressing decentralization in the rural areas has been confined to deconcentration of the local state administrative system and the formal recognition of community authorities as a result of Decree 15 of 2000.