Following days of opposition-led protests, Mozambique’s President-elect has urged for dialogue to address political tensions and promote national unity. Discover the latest updates on the political climate in Mozambique.
On Thursday, October 24th, Mozambique’s President-elect adopted a conciliatory tone while addressing the public shortly after the announcement of results from contested elections.
Daniel Chapo decisively defeated three opponents, capturing 70.67% of the vote.
I aspire to serve as the president for all Mozambicans, fostering unity from Rovuma to Maputo. Let’s engage in dialogue and conversation together. Mozambique progresses through peace, harmony, security, and open dialogues—not street protests. We welcome any ideas from fellow Mozambicans that contribute positively to our nation’s development.
The ruling Frelimo party will hold an absolute majority in Parliament following their victory in the concurrent elections.
The electoral cycle has been disrupted by violence, particularly targeting officials from the Podemos coalition.
As the Frelimo party, we want to reaffirm our condemnation of the murders of Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe, along with others who have suffered physically during these ongoing demonstrations.
Dias, a lawyer and advisor to opposition presidential candidate Mondlane, was killed when gunmen opened fire on his car in the port capital of Maputo on October 18. Guambe, the party spokesperson who was also present in the car, lost his life as well.
The president-elect condemned the opposition’s strikes, which were organized to protest what they alleged was widespread deception.
Police subdued the demonstrations this week by dispersing them with teargas.
On Thursday, Lutero Simango from the opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement, who received slightly more than 3% of the vote, contested the election results and announced that his party would be taking legal action to challenge them.
READ ALSO: Mozambique Cracks Down on Protesters After Political Killings
Although the election commission has confirmed the results, the final decision will rest with the Constitutional Council after it reviews any appeals.
A multitude of challenges
The outcome of the October 9 election indicates that Mozambique’s ruling party, the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo), has prolonged its nearly half-century rule since achieving independence from Portugal in 1975. Following independence, Frelimo engaged in a brutal civil war with Renamo—a former rebel group and now primary opposition party—which also participated as a contender in this election.
Chapo will confront immediate challenges, such as dealing with a terror group linked to the Islamic State that has been attacking communities in Cabo Delgado’s resource-rich province since 2017. This group is notorious for carrying out numerous beheadings.
The United Nations reported earlier this year that approximately 600,000 of the 1.3 million individuals who left the province since 2017 have returned to their homes. Many find themselves coming back to devastated communities with destroyed houses, markets, churches, schools, and health facilities.
Mozambique is grappling with significant unemployment and hunger, worsened by a severe drought caused by El Niño. The U.N. World Food Program reports that 1.3 million people are experiencing critical food shortages in the country.
Frelimo has frequently faced accusations of election rigging, allegations it has consistently denied. Current President Filipe Nyusi from Frelimo is stepping down after completing the maximum two terms permitted.
The EU’s observer mission reported this week that some of its election observers were blocked from overseeing the counting process in certain areas, and there was an “unjustified alteration” of results at specific polling stations.
