Mozambique’s Frelimo wins poll by 70 percent
Mozambique’s ruling party Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo has won the presidential election with 70.67 percent of the votes cast, elections authorities said yesterday.
The National Electoral Commission declared Chapo winner. Coming a distant second is independent candidate Venâncio Mondlane who amassed 20.32 percent of the ballots despite his previous claims that he was leading.
According to the Associated Press, main opposition party Renamo leader Ossufo Momade came third with 5.81 percent of the votes.
Meanwhile, the results are expected to be validated by the Constitutional Council which will consider any appeals.
Reacting to the development, the Malawi Government—which under President Lazarus Chakwera has improved and enjoyed strong relations with Maputo outgoing leader Filipe Nyusi—said yesterday it believes that its cordial relations with Mozambique will continue for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries.
Said Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu: “We always wish Mozambicans well, we are brothers. For example, we have some common development projects for mutual benefit such as the railway projects. We believe that the relationship that has been there will continue for our mutual benefit.”
Prior to the results’ announcement, the opposition alleged fraud during the election process that saw Mondlane calling for demonstrations on Monday this week when protesters clashed with the police.
Observers, including the European Union (EU) Election Observer Mission noted irregularities during counting and “unjustified alteration of election results” at polling stations and at district levels.
EU said some of its 179 election observers were prevented from observing tabulation processes in some districts, provinces and at national level.
Opposition parties called for another protest that was scheduled for yesterday and today.
Malawi Consular General in Tete, Mozambique, Happy Saka issued a travel advisory urging motorists on the Malawi-Mozambique route to exercise caution.
He said: “We urge all Malawian nationals to take necessary precautions and avoid non-essential travel to Mozambique until the situation stabilizes.”
The Southern African Development Community Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation on Monday urged all election stakeholders in that country to uphold peace.
The organ’s chairperson Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan also condemned the alleged killing of two opposition figures last week and called for investigations.
The opposition Pedomos official Paulo Guambe and the party’s lawyer Elvino Dias, who was also Mondlane’s lawyer, were shot dead in their car on October 19.
Chapo, 47, is expected to succeed President Nyusi who has been in power for the maximum two five-year terms.
Frelimo has been in power since Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975.