Buur, Lars, and Helene Maria Kyed. “Traditional authority in Mozambique: the legible space between state and community.” In State Recognition and Democratization in Sub-Saharan Africa, pp. 105-127. Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2007.

In this book chapter, the authors explore state recognition of traditional authority in Mozambique in general and discusses in particular how legislation was implemented in the former rural war zones and opposition strongholds. The authors argue that government recognition of traditional authority emerged from the political concern of decentralization. Thus, the Decree 15 of 2000 provided the opportunity for traditional authority to be inserted into local governance. They explain that the decree was the state’s way of formally recognizing representatives of local community as quasi-state functionaries. They indicate that  community leaders should be recognized as traditional leaders who are to be consulted on behalf of the communities they represent.