Cape Verde Civil Society to Track Election Promises
As Cape Verde prepares for municipal elections on December 1, a prominent civil society group is sending a clear message to politicians: we are keeping receipts. The Cape Verdean Civil Society Forum (Forum-CV) announced on Thursday that it will systematically record every campaign promise made by candidates across the nation’s 22 municipalities to ensure accountability over the next four years.
Holding Winners to Their Word
In a newly released manifesto, Forum-CV detailed its plan to monitor the 2024–2028 mandates. By creating a formal registry of electoral commitments, the organization aims to verify whether winning candidates actually deliver on the pledges they use to secure votes. The Forum described itself as a “vigilance agent,” seeking to bridge the gap between campaign rhetoric and local governance.
“This record will be maintained and updated throughout the mandate, allowing for the monitoring of the actions of those elected,” the organization stated. While the group intends to act as a watchdog, it also expressed a willingness to collaborate with local authorities to find solutions to the country’s most pressing challenges.
Key Demands: Housing and Transparency
Beyond fiscal and political accountability, the Forum’s manifesto outlines several critical priorities for the incoming municipal leaders. Chief among these is the “urgent” need for decent housing, particularly for low-income citizens. The group pointed to the rise of clandestine constructions in urban centers as a visible failure of current housing policies.
The Forum is also calling for broader democratic reforms at the local level, including:
- Participatory Budgeting: Implementing systems in all municipalities to give residents a direct say in how public funds are spent.
- Codes of Conduct: Establishing and enforcing municipal rules to ensure the cleanliness and maintenance of public spaces.
A Shift in the Political Landscape
The upcoming election arrives at a time when the diversity of political options appears to be shrinking. Maria do Rosário Pereira, president of the National Elections Commission (CNE), recently warned of a “decrease in electoral competitiveness.” This year, only 10 political forces—comprising five parties and five independent citizen movements—are competing. This is a significant drop from the 16 groups that ran four years ago.
Pereira suggested this trend may signal a need to “reinforce the democratic fabric” to avoid political stagnation. Currently, the ruling Movement for Democracy (MpD) holds the majority of local power, controlling 14 municipalities, while the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) governs eight.
High Stakes for 350,000 Voters
Approximately 352,000 registered voters will head to the polls, with half of the electorate concentrated in the major hubs of Praia, São Vicente, and Santa Catarina. As the campaign intensifies, Forum-CV’s initiative serves as a reminder to candidates that while promises may be easy to make on the trail, they will be documented and measured long after the ballots are counted.
Image: Pexels – Element5 Digital
