As anticipated, the Frelimo party has emerged victorious in Mozambique’s recent elections, but accusations of widespread electoral fraud have clouded the outcome.
While official results have not been announced, all indications indicate a Frelimo win, continuing their nearly 50-year hold on power. Daniel Chapo, Frelimo’s candidate, is expected to secure the presidency.
Venâncio Mondlane, one of the leading opposition candidates and once a member of Renamo, has challenged the results, claiming, “What we are seeing here is election rigging of the highest order.” Mondlane, who left Renamo to run as an independent, came in second, trailing Chapo in the presidential race.
Despite this, he insists the election was stolen, echoing his previous claims of corruption in Mozambique’s electoral system. “This is nothing new. We have seen this in past elections,” he added.
Frelimo Maintains Stronghold, Opposition Eroded
In the capital, Maputo, preliminary numbers show Chapo winning 53.68% of the vote, with Mondlane receiving 33.84%. Renamo’s leader, Ossufo Momade, trails around 9%, while Lutero Simango of the MDM party holds 3%.
In the Cabo Delgado region, plagued by jihadist violence since 2017, Frelimo garnered 66% of the vote, with Mondlane following at 22.64%, leaving Renamo in third once again.
António Niquice, Frelimo’s secretary in Maputo, quickly dismissed fraud allegations, stating, “These are fair results that reflect the will of the people. These elections were very transparent.”
Observers are raising concerns about Renamo’s fading influence. Once a powerful opposition force, the party now faces a steep decline.
Jaime Guiliche, a political analyst, commented on the shifting landscape, suggesting that “Podemos, a party not yet represented in parliament that supported Venâncio Mondlane’s presidential candidacy, will take Renamo’s place.” This shift could push Renamo from its long-held position as Mozambique’s main opposition party, fundamentally altering the country’s political framework.
Accusations of Fraud and Disenfranchisement
Renamo, which once fought a bitter civil war against Frelimo, has continued to battle the ruling party in the political arena, especially in regions like Zambézia province.
Although the region has been a Renamo stronghold, Frelimo is expected to win even there. Over the weekend, Renamo called for the annulment of votes in eight districts of Zambézia, alleging that their representatives were barred from overseeing the voting process.
Manuel de Araújo, Renamo’s candidate for governor of Zambézia, has taken his accusations abroad, embarking on a “mission” to Europe and the United States to highlight what he describes as rampant electoral fraud.
“There was organized disorganization by the electoral authorities,” Araújo said, citing a lack of staff and voting materials in several polling stations.
Thousands of Mozambicans were reportedly unable to vote due to their names being mysteriously removed from the voter rolls by the STAE (Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration), particularly in areas traditionally supporting Renamo.
Araújo also detailed several incidents of electoral malpractice, claiming that Frelimo agents had sabotaged the power supply in many areas, forcing votes to be counted by candlelight.
In one particularly damning case in Quelimane, Araújo said, “We found a folder with 117 pre-filled ballots in favor of Frelimo.” When confronted, the STAE director claimed ignorance and could not explain the irregularities.
Calls for Independent Investigation
All allegations have been referred to the prosecutor’s office, but Araújo is demanding more than just a domestic investigation. He calls for independent, national, and international inquiries into the election, stating, “As it stands now, it is not worth continuing to hold elections.”
Araújo’s stance reflects the deep distrust many opposition figures have in Mozambique’s electoral processes, which allegations of fraud and corruption have long plagued.
With Mozambique’s political landscape hanging in the balance, the growing calls for an independent investigation could force the government to address the election’s legitimacy. However, with Frelimo’s entrenched power and control over key institutions, significant changes seem unlikely in the near term.
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