Mozambique

Frelimo wins Mozambique elections, extending Power

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Election officials in Mozambique announced on Thursday that the ruling party, Frelimo, has won the country’s disputed elections, solidifying its grip on power for over five decades. Daniel Chapo, Frelimo’s candidate, will succeed President Filipe Nyusi, who is stepping down after two terms. Frelimo has governed Mozambique since its independence from Portugal in 1975, and the results were widely anticipated to favor the party. The electoral commission reported that Chapo received 70 percent of the vote, while his closest rival, Venancio Mondlane of the Podemos party, garnered 20 percent. Mondlane replaced the former opposition party, Renamo, which saw its candidate finish in third place. Following the announcement of the results, violent protests erupted in several towns amid allegations of fraud and vote rigging. European Union observers expressed concerns over the integrity of the elections, citing “irregularities during counting and unjustified alterations of results.” Opposition parties echoed these claims, leading to nationwide protests called by Podemos, which were met with police dispersing crowds using live rounds and tear gas. Mondlane has called for a nationwide strike on Thursday and Friday in response to the alleged electoral misconduct. Tensions escalated after the recent shootings of two prominent Podemos figures in Maputo. As fears grow that the protests could escalate into violence, Mondlane has until December to contest the election results. Chapo is set to be officially sworn in as president in January. The elections held on October 9 also included parliamentary and provincial contests, in which Frelimo secured a majority in the Assembly of the Republic, further entrenching its political dominance in Mozambique.

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Tensions escalate in Mozambique after oppositions murdered

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Mozambique is facing heightened tensions following the murder of two prominent opposition figures ahead of planned protests against the election results. Elvino Dias, a lawyer for the new opposition party Podemos and advisor to its presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, was killed alongside party official Paulo Guambe. They were shot late Friday night by assailants pursuing their vehicle. Social media videos show a BMW SUV riddled with bullet holes, underscoring the violence of the attack. Their deaths come as the country awaits results from the contested October 9 election, set to be announced on October 24. Provisional results suggest a likely victory for Frelimo, which has ruled Mozambique since its independence in 1975. Western election observers have raised concerns about the election’s integrity, citing issues such as vote-buying and suppression of dissent. Opposition parties, including Podemos, have alleged fraud and called for a nationwide strike on Monday. With past instances of security forces opening fire on protesters, there are fears that the upcoming demonstrations could escalate into violence. The European Union and Portugal have condemned the killings of the Podemos officials and are calling for an investigation.

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Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo leads Mozambique elections

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Daniel Chapo, the presidential candidate for Mozambique’s ruling party Frelimo, participated in last week’s general election. Preliminary results released on Wednesday indicate that Frelimo is leading in all 11 provinces, positioning Chapo as the likely next president. However, election observers have expressed concerns about the integrity of the poll, stating it fell short of international standards. Reports of disorganized counting, poorly sealed ballot boxes, vote buying, inflated voter rolls, and intimidation have emerged. Opposition parties have alleged fraud, with at least one calling for a nationwide strike on Monday and another planning to contest the results in court. Frelimo has been in power since Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and has faced persistent accusations of election rigging, which the party denies. Final results are expected on October 24.

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Mozambique Elections: Frelimo set to maintain power

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Mozambique is set to welcome 17 million voters for elections on October 9, determining the makeup of 250 parliamentary members and provincial assemblies. The ruling Frelimo party, in power since independence from Portugal in 1975, is expected to nominate its next presidential candidate from within its ranks. Daniel Chapo, a former radio announcer and law teacher, is anticipated to succeed Filipe Nyusi as president. Local resident Julio Macamo expressed hopes for progress, stating, “We aspire for a better future. Given our past experiences, we want the new government to succeed.” At least four candidates are vying for change in a nation grappling with a jihadist insurgency and severe climate challenges, including flooding. The insurgency has displaced over 1.3 million people, while many others face significant food shortages due to drought. Sheila Duarte Timana from Maputo remarked, “If the president-elect delivers the improvements we’ve been asking for, I believe the people will be very happy.” Last year’s local elections were marred by serious allegations of vote-rigging and fraud, leading to violent protests in Maputo and its vicinity. This time, however, concerns appear to be less pronounced.

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Towards the parliamentary elections in Mozambique

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Mozambique is set to hold general elections on October 9 to choose a new President, Parliament, and regional governments. The ruling Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo) is campaigning to maintain the presidency and its parliamentary majority under new leader Daniel Chapo. They face challenges from the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) led by Ossufo Momade, the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) headed by Lutero Simango, and independent candidate Venancio Mondlane. As the campaign wraps up on October 6, there have been no significant reports of partisan violence. However, on September 28, the National Electoral Commission (CNE) disclosed it had experienced a cyber-attack, the repercussions of which are still unclear. In anticipation of the elections, authorities are expected to heighten security across the nation, with potential measures including checkpoints, increased patrolling in urban areas, border restrictions, and curfews. Protests and clashes between party supporters and security forces are anticipated, particularly in major urban centers, opposition strongholds, and northern provinces like Cabo Delgado, Nampula, Niassa, and Zambezia. Significant disruptions to urban and intercity travel, business operations, and telecommunications may occur due to civil unrest or preemptive security measures.

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Campaigns begin in Mozambique ahead of October 9 polls

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The campaign for the general elections set for October 9 began on Saturday, August 24, in Mozambique. The ruling party since independence in 1975, Frelimo, will face the main opposition party, Renamo, which originated from a former anti-communist rebellion. However, an independent candidate, Venâncio Mondlane, might create a surprise. The issues voters will consider include inequality and the management of the conflict in Cabo Delgado. While Frelimo has always refused to negotiate with jihadist groups, the opposition favors discussions and emphasizes addressing the social causes of the insurgency. The issues of wages and the cost of living are also expected to be central to the debates, as inequalities are widening between rural populations and urban elites in Mozambique. The current President, Filipe Nyusi, who has been in power since 2015, cannot run again. His ruling Frelimo party has nominated Daniel Chapo. The main opposition party, Renamo, on the other hand, will be represented by Ossufo Momade. The third candidate who could also change the status quo in this race is Venâncio Mondlane, who embodies the hope for regime change and could “create a surprise,” according to a political analyst. On that day, Mozambicans will also elect their parliamentarians and provincial authority representatives.

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