KEY POINTS
- Mozambique holds a tense general election with the ruling FRELIMO party expected to secure another victory amid allegations of corruption and voter intimidation.
- Opposition parties and civil society groups have raised concerns about electoral fairness, highlighting the lack of transparency and potential voter suppression.
- The election takes place as Mozambique grapples with economic challenges, insurgencies in the north, and calls for political reform.
Mozambique held a general election on 9 October 2024 and the election was characterized its usual political drama, corruption allegations and voter intimidation. Portuguese-speaking Mozambique has been dominated since independence in 1975 by the FRELIMO party, which is favored to stay in power despite rising complaints over corruption, joblessness, and insecurity.
This election is a turning point for the southern African nation as the voters decide the fate of a government that has come under growing scrutiny for graft and mismanagement of several crises.
The main opposition party RENAMO and other small parties have complained of electoral malpractice saying that the ruling party has resorted to practices that give it an unfair advantage.
The opposition has raised an alarm on the fairness of the upcoming elections.
Political dissenters and advocacy organizations alike are concerned with voter intimidation and the general conduct of the election. Media accounts of the allegedly distal voting irregularities such as late delivery of voters’ materials and cases of violence against voters have raised an outcry of tilted voting processes.
RENAMO and other parties have urged international observers to monitor the election process to prevent vote rigging while many people doubt the possibility of free and fair election.
Mozambique’s elections have always been associated with accusations of vote rigging and other electoral vices and this year was no different. People are closely watching the counting process and any possible post-election conflicts since the opposition leaders promised to contest any result they consider rigged.
Reuters reported that there has been increased political unrest as people protested in some parts of the country over political oppression before the election. Still these concerns FRELIMO retain the upper hand and most analysts write that this ruling party will keep on reign for the next decades as it has been doing already.
Economic and security challenges define the election
The election comes at a time when Mozambique is experiencing severe economic and security problems. The country’s economy has been in a state of slow growth, inflation and high unemployment for several years and the Mozambicans are dissatisfied with the way the government manages the country’s economy.
At the same time, insurgencies in the northern Cabo Delgado province where the Islamist militants have been operating has led to a security problem that has displaced thousands of people and fostered insecurity in the region.
The incumbent President Filipe Nyusi who is already vying for another term in office has over the years pointed at his government’s achievements of stabilizing the country and enhancing the economy.
On the other hand, critics have accused FRELIMO of been excessively corrupt, irregular embezzlement of public funds and failure to introduce political changes that might enhance the challenging situation back home.
Hope for political reform
When Mozambique comes to the result of the 2024 election, many of the voters expect the government to solve the problems facing the country. Demands for political change, more openness, and attempts to fight corruption are getting louder.
But that is again up in the air since FRELIMO is likely to be voted back in again and it is unclear if these demands will be honored.
The outcome of the election will therefore have long term consequences on Mozambique’s future both politically and economically.
While many international observers have been observing the environment after the election, there is optimism that peace and security will prevail even if the election was characterized by tensions.
