Background: As part of the Peacebuilding Practitioners Interview Series, Ilan Cooper interviewed Abdul Sau, who is the vice president of the Islamic Council of Mozambique and on the electoral observancy commission of Mozambique as a coordinator of the Technical Board. In this interview, he shares his opinions on how religion has played a role in determining key political outcomes in Mozambique. He specifically addresses education as an area of potential cooperation between the government and religious communities.
Can you talk about how religion has affected your career and life?
I am the general coordinator of the electoral observancy organization. I have had this job since 2008. I am also a member of the Islamic Council of Mozambique. In fact I am the vice president, and it is in this capacity that I work here. The electoral observancy organization is made up of eight bodies including the Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM), the Catholic Church, the Human Rights League, and the Islamic Council. These bodies are all members of its board. It is thus a huge interfaith project. I am the coordinator of the technical board. I did my B.A. in Islamic studies in Medina in Saudi Arabia 10 years ago. Since then I have worked for the Islamic Council. I am also a teacher at the Islamic Institute in Maputo, and I am currently studying for a master's degree in public administration and governance. The electoral observancy, as I already said, is made up of eight organizations (at first there were only four groups but now there are eight). We have been working together since 2003. In particular during the 2003 election for municipalities we did a lot of work. We not only observe on the day of the elections, but we take part in all the processes that come before, such as registration and the taking of the census. We also monitor the electoral roll and make suggestions about how the electoral law could be changed. We therefore often lobby parliament. We are currently fighting to change other articles in the law concerning elections. We are the only organization in Mozambique that does this kind of work. Indeed, very few anywhere in Africa do this.
In the 2003 municipalities vote we were very important. We monitored and found that in some provinces the result had been given to FRELIMO when this had not occurred. We actually managed to get the result changed which shows the influence that we currently have. Thus, it is clear that our job is recognized. Again last year in the 2008 municipalities vote there was dispute over Nacula. Again it was said that FRELIMO had won, and again we contested this result. Actually no candidate had received the required 50 percent of the vote, and we ensured that a second vote was held. In 2003 and 2004 we also got assistance from the Carter Center. We have also collaborated with many other organizations, and we do seminars all over the country at a provincial level. We also work with many other civil society groups and have brought in international experts to help in the past. We gather together civil society members and academics and the such-like in order to ensure our work is done thoroughly. Indeed, when the government ignores us we try and bring international pressure to bear in order to get what we think is right.
What was the role of religious actors in the civil war?
Most people in this country are religious. Since before independence religion has had a powerful influence in Mozambique. It affected people’s behavior, and it also affected the government. During the civil war many religious people spoke out against the violence. Religious leaders also contacted people from both sides of the conflict and facilitated dialogue. In particular the CCM and the Catholic Church played important roles. They were the first ones who managed to contact RENAMO. The Islamic Council also played some role in this call for dialogue. The religious communities tried to pressure people into ending the war. People now still listen to religious leaders a lot. Religious actors have a large affect on society and the political leaders.
The relationships between the different religious groups is also good. Problems are solved at an interfaith level. For example, with the issue of malaria now. All people have banded together to fight this. This is also true here with the electoral observancy. This is an interfaith initiative to fight for the country. All initiatives now days are interfaith—for example, to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, poverty. Religion plays a strong role in this society and we work together for a better future. All these efforts are working at achieving development and creating peace.
The political system of communism could not accommodate religious actors. FRELIMO did not have a relationship with the churches. They did not fight openly with them, and mosques and churches worked normally. But they mandated that FRELIMO people could not be religious because of their ideology of Marxism. Despite this religious leaders were able to speak with the political leadership. People always listened to them. Indeed, the Islamic Council president went to see Samora Machel himself to try and persuade him to do what was right. They spoke very openly. He was able to ask him for things. FRELIMO wanted to listen to the people, and religious leaders spoke for the people. So when the religious communities spoke to RENAMO such a relationship was important. FRELIMO did not stop them because of this, and also because the FRELIMO people came from the churches originally, so they had to listen. So religious actors helped persuade FRELIMO that their way of thinking was not correct. The fact is that they were part of the religious communities even if their political affiliation prevented them from being so. And the religious actors always maintained their credibility, which is why they could achieve peace.
What do you think of the fact that there was no punishment of those responsible for crimes in the civil war?
The role of religious actors in the transition is well-documented. Afterwards we appealed for forgiveness and reconciliation. The religious actors appealed for this, too. The religious communities were important in stopping prosecutions.
Is the transition complete?
No. There are still many issues to sort out. Many things are still wrong, and much must be done.
What was the role of religious actors in the consolidation of democracy?
We are still trying to involve ourselves in all the processes. We have a strong influence, and we must use this to lobby government. Whatever happens the religious community is there, and they have maintained their active role.
What is the relationship between the government and religious communities?
This relationship is very good and open. We have nothing to complain about. The government is very receptive to our words. The religious communities are very powerful. You see during election periods the government and political parties appealing to the religious leaders to support them. Religious leader have a lot of influence. Religion is very, very important and can still influence most things.
What is the role of religious actors in the future of the country?
This is a very hard question. What I feel is that Mozambique has been very influenced by globalization. There are many people, especially the young, who have accepted new cultures and are adopting other cultures and losing their own. Sometimes we lose our own way of behaving. This effects the religious side of, in particular, the young, too. This is a very big challenge for religion in Mozambique. We need to keep the young people behaving in the right manner. But the work done by the religious communities is very powerful. They are doing well. They not only teach religion but science and education. They allow people to study.
Because of this improvement in teaching people and informing people they will still have an influence in the future. They will continue to influence society.
We have a result like the first days after independence. There was here some hostility to religion. The government was not open. Now the people who were young then are the leaders of the country so this is a challenge. There is also much corruption. For us to change all these things it is compulsory for us to make arrangements to improve education. Indeed, I was invited to speak by the minister of education to talk about introducing civic and religious education back into the school system in Mozambique. In the public school system. The government asked the religious communities to have a role in this. So in the future religious issues must be better taught. There is much competition now in Mozambique between the religions to perform better. This is good. This means that they give more and that the best outcome is achieved.
I have one thing to add. We have many development projects here. All religions do. The CCM, the Catholic Church, the Islamic Council...all encourage people to farm and teach them the skills they need to do this. We support the people in making farms and crafts. This is good for the people. It helps them develop. These small business projects even help the government. This helps the poor to create small businesses. This is good to mention because it shows how religious actors are trying to do what is best for the people.
I am the general coordinator of the electoral observancy organization. I have had this job since 2008. I am also a member of the Islamic Council of Mozambique. In fact I am the vice president, and it is in this capacity that I work here. The electoral observancy organization is made up of eight bodies including the Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM), the Catholic Church, the Human Rights League, and the Islamic Council. These bodies are all members of its board. It is thus a huge interfaith project. I am the coordinator of the technical board. I did my B.A. in Islamic studies in Medina in Saudi Arabia 10 years ago. Since then I have worked for the Islamic Council. I am also a teacher at the Islamic Institute in Maputo, and I am currently studying for a master's degree in public administration and governance. The electoral observancy, as I already said, is made up of eight organizations (at first there were only four groups but now there are eight). We have been working together since 2003. In particular during the 2003 election for municipalities we did a lot of work. We not only observe on the day of the elections, but we take part in all the processes that come before, such as registration and the taking of the census. We also monitor the electoral roll and make suggestions about how the electoral law could be changed. We therefore often lobby parliament. We are currently fighting to change other articles in the law concerning elections. We are the only organization in Mozambique that does this kind of work. Indeed, very few anywhere in Africa do this.
In the 2003 municipalities vote we were very important. We monitored and found that in some provinces the result had been given to FRELIMO when this had not occurred. We actually managed to get the result changed which shows the influence that we currently have. Thus, it is clear that our job is recognized. Again last year in the 2008 municipalities vote there was dispute over Nacula. Again it was said that FRELIMO had won, and again we contested this result. Actually no candidate had received the required 50 percent of the vote, and we ensured that a second vote was held. In 2003 and 2004 we also got assistance from the Carter Center. We have also collaborated with many other organizations, and we do seminars all over the country at a provincial level. We also work with many other civil society groups and have brought in international experts to help in the past. We gather together civil society members and academics and the such-like in order to ensure our work is done thoroughly. Indeed, when the government ignores us we try and bring international pressure to bear in order to get what we think is right.
What was the role of religious actors in the civil war?
Most people in this country are religious. Since before independence religion has had a powerful influence in Mozambique. It affected people’s behavior, and it also affected the government. During the civil war many religious people spoke out against the violence. Religious leaders also contacted people from both sides of the conflict and facilitated dialogue. In particular the CCM and the Catholic Church played important roles. They were the first ones who managed to contact RENAMO. The Islamic Council also played some role in this call for dialogue. The religious communities tried to pressure people into ending the war. People now still listen to religious leaders a lot. Religious actors have a large affect on society and the political leaders.
The relationships between the different religious groups is also good. Problems are solved at an interfaith level. For example, with the issue of malaria now. All people have banded together to fight this. This is also true here with the electoral observancy. This is an interfaith initiative to fight for the country. All initiatives now days are interfaith—for example, to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, poverty. Religion plays a strong role in this society and we work together for a better future. All these efforts are working at achieving development and creating peace.
The political system of communism could not accommodate religious actors. FRELIMO did not have a relationship with the churches. They did not fight openly with them, and mosques and churches worked normally. But they mandated that FRELIMO people could not be religious because of their ideology of Marxism. Despite this religious leaders were able to speak with the political leadership. People always listened to them. Indeed, the Islamic Council president went to see Samora Machel himself to try and persuade him to do what was right. They spoke very openly. He was able to ask him for things. FRELIMO wanted to listen to the people, and religious leaders spoke for the people. So when the religious communities spoke to RENAMO such a relationship was important. FRELIMO did not stop them because of this, and also because the FRELIMO people came from the churches originally, so they had to listen. So religious actors helped persuade FRELIMO that their way of thinking was not correct. The fact is that they were part of the religious communities even if their political affiliation prevented them from being so. And the religious actors always maintained their credibility, which is why they could achieve peace.
What do you think of the fact that there was no punishment of those responsible for crimes in the civil war?
The role of religious actors in the transition is well-documented. Afterwards we appealed for forgiveness and reconciliation. The religious actors appealed for this, too. The religious communities were important in stopping prosecutions.
Is the transition complete?
No. There are still many issues to sort out. Many things are still wrong, and much must be done.
What was the role of religious actors in the consolidation of democracy?
We are still trying to involve ourselves in all the processes. We have a strong influence, and we must use this to lobby government. Whatever happens the religious community is there, and they have maintained their active role.
What is the relationship between the government and religious communities?
This relationship is very good and open. We have nothing to complain about. The government is very receptive to our words. The religious communities are very powerful. You see during election periods the government and political parties appealing to the religious leaders to support them. Religious leader have a lot of influence. Religion is very, very important and can still influence most things.
What is the role of religious actors in the future of the country?
This is a very hard question. What I feel is that Mozambique has been very influenced by globalization. There are many people, especially the young, who have accepted new cultures and are adopting other cultures and losing their own. Sometimes we lose our own way of behaving. This effects the religious side of, in particular, the young, too. This is a very big challenge for religion in Mozambique. We need to keep the young people behaving in the right manner. But the work done by the religious communities is very powerful. They are doing well. They not only teach religion but science and education. They allow people to study.
Because of this improvement in teaching people and informing people they will still have an influence in the future. They will continue to influence society.
We have a result like the first days after independence. There was here some hostility to religion. The government was not open. Now the people who were young then are the leaders of the country so this is a challenge. There is also much corruption. For us to change all these things it is compulsory for us to make arrangements to improve education. Indeed, I was invited to speak by the minister of education to talk about introducing civic and religious education back into the school system in Mozambique. In the public school system. The government asked the religious communities to have a role in this. So in the future religious issues must be better taught. There is much competition now in Mozambique between the religions to perform better. This is good. This means that they give more and that the best outcome is achieved.
I have one thing to add. We have many development projects here. All religions do. The CCM, the Catholic Church, the Islamic Council...all encourage people to farm and teach them the skills they need to do this. We support the people in making farms and crafts. This is good for the people. It helps them develop. These small business projects even help the government. This helps the poor to create small businesses. This is good to mention because it shows how religious actors are trying to do what is best for the people.
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