Mozambique Election Under Scrutiny Amid Tensions
In Mozambique, the ongoing election process has drawn scrutiny from European Union election monitors amidst rising tensions in the country as it awaits the official announcement of results this week. This situation has been exacerbated by the recent murders of two significant opposition figures, which has ignited protests from supporters of the opposition party.
The EU observer delegation noted on Tuesday that its members, numbering 179, faced restrictions preventing them from observing the vote tabulation in several areas, including various districts and provinces, as well as at the national level. The observers reported experiencing “unjustified alterations” to the election results recorded at some polling stations.
Laura Ballarín, the chief observer of the EU mission, stated, “While we have been monitoring the electoral process, we have unfortunately noted irregularities during the counting and unexpected modifications of election results on both polling station and district levels.” She urged the country’s electoral authorities to ensure a transparent tabulation process to uphold the credibility of the forthcoming election results.
Ballarín emphasized that the public release of detailed results by polling station is essential for maintaining the integrity of the election, suggesting it is not only best practice but also a necessary measure for safeguarding the results’ validity.
The political climate has grown more volatile following the assassination of two leading opposition figures last Friday, which led to a wave of protests from supporters of the opposition on Monday. These protests were met with police intervention, utilizing tear gas to disperse crowds.
Elvino Dias, an attorney and advisor to opposition presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, was ambushed and killed in the capital city, Maputo, when assailants opened fire on his vehicle. Also killed in the incident was Paulo Guambe, the spokesperson for the PODEMOS opposition party, which supports Mondlane.
In response to the violence, Mondlane has called for nationwide demonstrations, accusing the ruling Frelimo party of election manipulation. His supporters have faced confrontations with law enforcement, raising fears of heightened violence related to the election once the official results are disclosed.
The U.S. State Department denounced the killings of Dias and Guambe, urging an in-depth investigation into the events while recommending that grievances related to the election be handled through established channels. They voiced the importance of peaceful resolutions to electoral disputes, encouraging all political entities, citizens, and stakeholders to denounce violence and inflammatory rhetoric.
Electoral results are anticipated to be revealed this week, with the formal validation by Mozambique’s Constitutional Council occurring afterward, following the resolution of any disputes raised by political parties. Meanwhile, David Chapo, the candidate from the ruling Frelimo party, is expected to take over from President Filipe Nyusi, as preliminary polling results indicate Frelimo leading the elections and poised to extend their nearly half-century rule.