MOZAMBIQUE NEWS ON DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE SEPTEMBER 11, 2009 Guebuza receives award for Leadership in Food Safety Policy The President, Armando Guebuza, yesterday received the Award for Leadership in Food Security Policies for 2009, awarded by the Forum of SADC Research and Policy Analysis of Agricultural Development, Food and Natural Resources. http://www.opais.co.mz/opais/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2650:guebuza-recebe-premio-de-lideranca-em-politicas-de-seguranca-alimentar-&catid=63:politica&Itemid=273 Electoral Observatory requires clarification of the CNE The Electoral Observatory met yesterday to debate on the current events surrounding the electoral process. According to the members of this institution in recent times there has been problems with the electoral process, characterized by physical violence and destruction of infrastructure between political opponents, exclusion of some parties and members to participate in national political activities. At the meeting in camera, the Electoral Observatory said that it will propose a meeting with the National Commission of Elections (CNE), in order to understand the current scenario that is considered a "threat to national young democracy." http://www.opais.co.mz/opais/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2642:observatorio-eleitoral-exige-esclarecimento-da-cne-&catid=63:politica&Itemid=273 CNE denies favoring parties CNE president, Leopoldo da Costa, has denied any "manipulation" to "facilitate" the major parties to the detriment of small, stressing the need for "strict compliance with the law." Leopoldo da Costa justified the action by the CNE in the exclusion of 10 of the 29 competing parties at general elections of 28 October, in a meeting with the donor countries of Mozambique, including the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA). For the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) whose exclusion in some constituencies is being widely questioned, the president of the CNE said that the party failed to timely remedy the deficiencies in its application. http://www.opais.co.mz/opais/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2648:cne-nega-favorecimento-de-partidos&catid=63:politica&Itemid=273 Mozambique and Australia tighten its relations The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Oldemiro Baloi, is since yesterday in Australia at the invitation of his counterpart, Stephane Smith. This meeting will seek ways of operationalizing the results of discussions between the authorities of both countries and for the strengthening of bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation. Noticias. 11th September, 2009. http://www.jornalnoticias.co.mz/pls/notimz2/getxml/pt/contentx/884544