KEY POINTS
- Vote counting has started in Mozambique, with Frelimo expected to win.
- Daniel Chapo is the favorite among the four presidential candidates.
- Past allegations of election rigging have caused concern, though the process has been peaceful so far.
Vote counting in Mozambique started on Wednesday evening, with the ruling Frelimo party expected to claim another victory. The election, which has drawn significant attention due to concerns over past vote-rigging allegations, has been described as peaceful so far.
Ruling party expected to retain power
Frelimo, which has governed Mozambique since 1975, faces continued allegations of election manipulation, though the party denies these claims.
Four candidates are vying for the presidency, but Daniel Chapo, a lawyer and Frelimo’s candidate, is widely expected to win. Chapo, 47, has positioned himself as a business-friendly figure and a fresh face for the ruling party.
Chapo’s biggest challenger is Venancio Mondlane, an independent candidate who has garnered popularity among young voters. Another contender is Ossufo Momade, a former rebel commander representing Renamo, the official opposition party that usually finishes a distant second in elections.
Observers, including those from the European Union and local groups like Mais Integridade, have reported no major issues during voting day.
However, concerns remain that disputes could arise during the vote-counting process. According to Reuters, Joseph Hanlon, an adviser to Mais Integridade, noted that while election day often runs smoothly, the count is typically more contentious.
Post-election concerns
Past elections have sparked protests, especially after Frelimo swept the municipal elections in 2023, leading to violent crackdowns.
Many voters are concerned about the ongoing issues facing the country, particularly the economic struggles and the Islamist insurgency in northern Mozambique. Cabo Delgado, a region in the north, has been a hotspot for conflict, displacing thousands and halting significant gas projects.
Rosa Tembe, a 72-year-old widow, expressed the hope that whoever wins the election would prioritize ending the violence in Cabo Delgado.
“We will ask the person who wins to end the conflict in Cabo Delgado because our grandsons are dying, and we don’t want this to happen anymore,” she said.
For many young voters, the election is a chance for change, but there is skepticism about whether real transformation will happen. Keila Sitoe, a 28-year-old voter, shared her doubts about the outcome, saying, “We don’t feel the energy. We are young, and things are difficult.”
Election day and the path forward
Chapo cast his vote early in the coastal city of Inhambane, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the election. “I want to say thank you to the people of Mozambique for this opportunity we have today,” he told reporters.
On the other hand, Mondlane emphasized that the youth would not tolerate any election fraud. “I deeply believe that this time will not be like other times,” Mondlane said after voting in a middle-class neighborhood in Maputo.
While the polls closed at 6 p.m. local time, the final results could take up to two weeks. Many citizens are cautiously watching the process, aware that any contested outcome could lead to unrest.
Mozambique currently waits in anticipation to see whether the peaceful voting day will lead to an equally peaceful transition of power or if the familiar post-election tensions will emerge.
