Mozambique's ruling party wins disputed polls

MAPUTO, Mozambique

Election officials in Mozambique on Thursday announced that the ruling party, Frelimo, has won the country’s disputed elections extending its five-decade grip on power.

The party’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, will replace President Filipe Nyusi, who is stepping down after the maximum two terms.

Frelimo has ruled the country since its independence from Portugal in 1975 and the polls were widely expected to return it to power.

The electoral commission said Chapo had won 70 per cent of the vote.  His closest challenger, Venancio Mondlane, who was backed by the Podemos party, got 20 per cent.

Mondlane displaced former rebel movement and opposition party, Renamo, whose candidate came in third this time around.

Daniel Chapo

Amid claims of fraud and vote rigging from election observers and the opposition, there have been violent protests in several towns following the announcement of the results.

European Union election observers cast doubts on the integrity of the poll, saying it did not meet international standards.

They said there had been “irregularities during counting and unjustified alteration of election results”.

Opposition parties have also cried fraud and nationwide protests on Monday called for by Podemos were dispersed by police firing live rounds and tear gas.

Mondlane has again called for a nationwide strike, on Thursday and Friday, in protest against the alleged rigging.

Last week, two prominent party figures, including Podemos’ lawyer, Elvino Dias, who was also Mondlane’s advisor, were gunned in Maputo by unknown assailants, ratcheting up tensions.

There are fears now that the protests could turn bloody.

Mondlane has until December to contest the results. Chapo will be officially sworn into office in January.

The 9 October polls were also parliamentary and provincial elections. In the legislative elections, Frelimo also obtained a significant victory.

It secured the majority of seats in the Assembly of the Republic, strengthening its political control in Mozambique.