KEY POINTS
- Mozambique’s Constitutional Council confirmed Frelimo’s electoral win, despite opposition claims of vote rigging and widespread protests.
- Protests intensified after the ruling, with over 130 fatalities reported in clashes with security forces.
- Economic fallout includes business disruptions and a downgraded growth forecast from the IMF amid unrest and Cyclone Chido’s impact.
Mozambique’s Constitutional Council upheld Frelimo’s contentious victory in the October elections, triggering a wave of protests from opposition groups alleging widespread vote rigging.
The ruling cements Frelimo’s decades-long dominance over the southern African nation of nearly 35 million people, despite mounting accusations of electoral malpractice.
The court, which holds ultimate authority over Mozambique’s electoral disputes, declared Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo as president-elect, confirming the party’s continued parliamentary majority.
But the decision has fueled unrest, with the opposition challenging its legitimacy and independent monitors describing the election as neither free nor fair.
Protests escalate as tensions rise
The post-election period has been marked by the most significant demonstrations in Frelimo’s nearly half-century rule. Civil society group Plataforma Decide reports at least 130 fatalities during clashes with security forces.
In the capital, Maputo, streets surrounding the Constitutional Council’s announcement were eerily deserted under a heavy police presence. Yet within hours, protesters in Nacala-Porto and parts of Maputo defied the crackdown, as footage aired on local television showed renewed unrest.
Frelimo’s official victory tally was revised by the court, lowering Chapo’s win to 65% of the vote from the electoral commission’s earlier estimate exceeding 70 percent. The parliamentary seats allocated to Frelimo was also reduced without explanation.
According to Reuters, the electoral commission has remained silent on allegations of fraud, while Frelimo has denied accusations of vote rigging, a claim that has dogged the party since multi-party elections began in 1994.
Opposition outcry and economic fallout
Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane’s representative, Judite Simao, denounced the ruling, saying, “The will of the people was obliterated.” Mondlane secured 24% of the vote, according to the court, but his supporters rejected the results, citing systematic suppression of electoral transparency.
The unrest has disrupted business operations, with Australian mining giant South32 (S32.AX) suspending activities and Mozambique temporarily closing its main border with South Africa.
The economic fallout extends to the broader outlook, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) downgraded Mozambique’s 2024 growth forecast to below the earlier 4.3% projection, citing both the unrest and the recent impact of Cyclone Chido.
Chapo’s vision amid crisis
Despite the turmoil, Chapo addressed Frelimo supporters, vowing to improve living standards in a nation grappling with political instability and economic challenges.
As Mozambique navigates the dual crises of internal dissent and natural disaster, questions loom over the sustainability of its political and economic trajectory under Frelimo’s continued reign.
