Maputo (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – EU poll observers have reported the “unjustified alteration” of some outcomes in Mozambique’s general election, amid indictments by a leading opposition candidate that the government assassinated his lawyer.
The developments on 22 Oct 2024 came a day after Mozambicans assembled to protest against alleged deception in the October 9 presidential and parliamentary elections. They demanded election authorities in the Southern African country perform the counting of ballots “transparently and credibly, ensuring the traceability of polling station results”.
“This was a crime perpetrated by the Defence and Security Forces. There’s no doubt about it. The special forces killed Elvino [Dias],” said Mondlane, who accused security forces of firing at Dias 25 times.
How did EU observers describe the election outcomes?
“The European Union Election Observation Mission [EU EOM] … has noted irregularities during counting and unjustified alteration of election results at the polling station and district level,” stated a statement from the EU observers.
In its statement, the EU observers insisted on “utmost restraint by all. Given the social tensions and electoral-related violence witnessed in recent days, the EU EOM reiterates its condemnation of the killings of Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe,” it stated.
What impact will the election results have on governance?
Presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane blamed security forces for killing his lawyer, Elvino Dias, over the weekend. Official election results are anticipated in Mozambique this week. Mondlane advised his supporters to “paralyse the country” to protest against what he predicted would be “profoundly false” results. He had called for a general walkout and was among a group of protesters in the capital, Maputo, who were scattered by police with tear gas.
Frelimo has been in office since Mozambique attained independence from Portugal 49 years ago. President Filipe Nyusi, 65, is withdrawing after two terms his party’s candidate, 47-year-old Daniel Chapo, was widely anticipated to win the election. Electoral brutality is not uncommon in the country of 35 million. Last year, several people were extinguished in clashes after local elections were won by Frelimo.
