Mozambique’s ruling party, Frelimo, has secured another victory in the country’s controversial, violence-ridden election, maintaining its 49-year grip on power.
The electoral commission declared Daniel Chapo, the relatively unknown Frelimo candidate, as the winner with 71% of the vote, marking the start of his presidency.
At 47, Chapo will be the first leader born after Mozambique’s independence in 1975. His closest challenger, Venancio Mondlane, garnered just 20% of the vote.
The election, however, has been tainted by allegations of fraud and politically motivated violence. Protests erupted after opposition supporters were killed and claims of rigging surfaced. Mondlane, who insists he won the election, has called for a national strike to protest the results. Tensions in the capital, Maputo, remain high, with businesses closed and streets deserted.
The EU’s election observers criticised the process, highlighting irregularities in vote counting and suspected alterations in results.
Despite the unrest, Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa prematurely congratulated Chapo on his “resounding victory” before the results were officially announced. The turnout for the election was 43% of the 17 million registered voters, as parliamentary and provincial elections were held simultaneously.
The situation continues to unfold amid concerns over potential further violence and the opposition’s demands for a recount.
Melissa Enoch
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