Mozambique Prepares for Watershed Election with New Presidential Candidate

Mozambique is gearing up for a pivotal election that will mark a significant shift in the country’s leadership. 

For the first time, the ruling Frelimo party is fielding a presidential candidate who was born after Mozambique gained independence from Portuguese rule in 1975. 

Daniel Chapo, the charismatic 47-year-old candidate, is leading Frelimo’s charge as the party looks to maintain power after 49 years of dominance.

Chapo’s candidacy represents a break from the era of leaders who rose through the ranks during Mozambique’s independence war. His youth and outsider status have drawn large crowds at campaign rallies, offering hope to voters tired of Frelimo’s long rule, marred by corruption scandals such as the notorious “tuna bond” debacle, which triggered the country’s worst economic crisis.

President Filipe Nyusi, who is stepping down after two terms, is backing Chapo as his successor. However, discontent is rising within parts of the electorate, with some Frelimo campaign members facing public rejection. Political commentator Charles Mangwiro remarked, “In some places Frelimo campaign members have been booed and openly rejected.”

Despite Chapo’s popularity, human rights activist and journalist Mirna Chitsungo questions whether he can convince voters that he can reform a party with a deeply entrenched legacy of corruption. “If we have a degraded country, it is because of corruption. He faces the challenge of promising to fight this evil while belonging to a party that, on a large scale, has perpetuated corruption,” Chitsungo said

Chapo’s political career began in 2011, rising quickly to become governor of Inhambane province by 2019 and later taking on the role of Frelimo’s general secretary in May 2023. His relatively fresh presence in the political arena is seen as a potential advantage, positioning him as a symbol of renewal for Frelimo.

However, allegations of election fraud cast a shadow over the upcoming polls. The non-governmental organization Centro de Integridade Pública has reported that around 5% of the names on the voters’ roll are “ghost voters” — fake entries amounting to nearly 900,000. Analyst Joe Hanlon pointed out discrepancies in voter registration data, revealing that some provinces registered more voters than there are eligible adults.

“It’s gotten worse,” said Miguel de Brito from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. “This year we managed to register nationally almost 105% of the voting age population.”

Gaza Province, a Frelimo stronghold, has been highlighted as a hotspot for inflated voter rolls, with many registered individuals suspected of being “ghost voters.” Despite these claims, both the election commission and Frelimo deny any wrongdoing and maintain that the elections will be free and fair.

As Mozambique heads to the polls on Wednesday, the presidential, parliamentary, and gubernatorial elections will determine whether Chapo’s promise of change can resonate with voters or if allegations of fraud will undermine the democratic process.

Chioma Kalu

Follow us on: