Africa-Press – Mozambique. Supporters of Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo Party and of the main opposition force, Renamo, marched in several of the country’s cities on Friday, expressing opposed positions on the municipal elections held on 11 October.
Frelimo billed its demonstrations as “victory marches” – even though there have been no definitive results announced so far, and the “intermediate results” giving victory to Frelimo are strongly contested.
Renamo marched in Maputo, for the fifth day, this time in the outlying neighbourhood of Zimpeto, demanding that what it called “the electoral truth” be restored.
Frelimo marched, not only in Maputo, but also in Vilanculo and Quelimane – all municipalities claimed by Renamo.
The Frelimo candidate for mayor of Maputo, Razaque Manhique, declared he was sure that his party has won in the capital, even though district courts have annulled the election in two municipal districts (KaMpfumo and Nlhamanculo) and ordered a recount in a third (KaMavota).
As for the opposition’s protests, Manhique thought these were “normal” in political contests, and he appealed for calm.
Perhaps the most surprising protest was the Renamo march in Beira, the only municipality not won by Frelimo, according to the “intermediate count”.
That count gave victory to the second opposition party, the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM).
According to the “intermediate count”, announced by the Beira district elections commission, the MDM won 112,963 votes (58 per cent of valid votes).
Frelimo came second, with 73,302 votes (37.74 per cent). Renamo, was humiliated with only 7,045 votes (3.63 per cent).
The Renamo mayoral candidate, Geraldo de Carvalho, claimed on Saturday that Renamo votes had been stolen in a conspiracy between Frelimo and the MDM.
In fact, the MDM victory was not unexpected since Beira has long been an MDM stronghold. Indeed, the MDM claims the true scale of its victory was even greater, and accuses the District Commission of taking away thousands of its votes.
No violence was reported on any of the Saturday marches.
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