Blitz Bureau
Mozambique’s ruling party, Frelimo, has won the country’s divisive, violencemarred election, extending its 49-year grip on power in the southern African nation, according to official results reported by BBC.
Daniel Chapo, Frelimo’s relatively unknown presidential candidate, seen as an agent of change, will replace Filipe Nyusi, who has served two terms.At 47, Chapo, who gained 71 per cent of the vote, will be the first President born after Independence in 1975, the BBC report said further. His closest rival, VenâncioMondlane got 20 pc, it said further. Chapo said in his victory speech: “We remained silent all this time, for respecting the law. We are an organised party that prepares its victories.”
Violent protests
Following the announcement of the result, there have been violent protests in several towns and a number of people have been killed. There is also heavy police presence in some areas.
The election has been marred by allegations of rigging and the killing of opposition supporters, prompting protests across the country.
Zimbabwe’s President EmmersonMnangagwa, who has also been hit by allegations of election fraud over the years, prematurely congratulated Chapo on his “resounding victory”, even before the results were announced.
OssufoMomade, the candidate of former rebel group Renamo, which was previously the main opposition party, came in third with 6 per cent. Political analyst Tomás Vieira Mário told the BBC that Renamo had lost its “historical position” because Momade, 68, had failed to attract young voters. The numbers announced surprised all voters, including some members and sympathisers of the ruling party, especially Frelimo’s landslide victory. The deputy chairperson of the electoral commission Fernando Mazanga, who was appointed by Renamo, said the “results are against electoral justice”.”These results do not represent the reality,” he said.
The electoral commission says 43 per cent of the more than 17 million registered voters took part in the poll.Parliamentary and provincial elections were held at the same time as the presidential vote.
Frelimo won 195 of the 250 seats in Parliament. The opposition Podemos, which backed Mondlane for President, got 31 seats and Renamo secured 20 seats.Frelimo also won all the provincial elections. President Filipe Nyusi followed the election results with a jubilant television address to the nation. “With more than 70 pc of the votes, I don’t see any teacher failing a student,” he said.
The election had been seen as a turning-point for the resource-rich country which is wracked by economic problems, corruption, and poverty.
‘Unjustified alteration’ of results, say EU observers
European Union poll observers have noted the “unjustified alteration” of some results in Mozambique’s general election, amid accusations by a leading opposition candidate that the government killed his lawyer. The developments came a day after Mozambicans gathered to protest against alleged fraud in the October 9 presidential and parliamentary elections.
“The European Union Election Observation Mission [EU EOM] … has noted irregularities during counting and unjustified alteration of election results at polling station and district level,” said a statement from the EU observers.
