Mozambique’s ruling party, Frelimo, has won the country’s divisive and violent election, according to official results, extending its 49-year hold on power in the southern African nation. .
Daniel Chapo, Frelimo’s relatively unknown presidential candidate, is seen as an agent of change, replacing Filipe Nyusi, who served two terms.
At 47, Chapo, who won 71% of the vote, would be the first president born after independence in 1975. His closest rival, Venancio Mondlane received 20%.
“We remained silent all this time out of respect for the law,” Chapo said in his victory speech. We are an organized party preparing for our victory.”
After the announcement of the results, there were violent protests in several towns and several cities. everyone was killed. There is also a heavy police presence in some areas.
The election was marred by allegations of fraud and the killing of opposition supporters, sparking protests across the country.
Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa, who has also been subject to many accusations of election fraud over the years, soon congratulated Chapo on his “resounding victory,” even before the results were announced.
Ossufo Momade, the candidate of the Renamo rebel group formerly the main opposition party, came third with 6%.
Political analyst Tomas Viera Mario told the BBC that Renamo had lost its “historic position” because Momade, 68, failed to attract young voters.
The announced numbers surprised all voters, including some members and sympathizers of the ruling party, especially Frelimo’s resounding victory.
Electoral commission vice president Fernando Mazanga, who was appointed by Renamo, said “this result goes against electoral justice”.
“These results do not reflect reality,” he said.
The election commission said 43% of more than 17 million registered voters participated in the election.
The parliamentary and provincial elections are held at the same time as the presidential election.
Frelimo won 195 out of 250 seats in parliament. The opposition Podemos, which supported Mondlane for president, won 31 seats and Renamo won 20 seats.
Frelimo also won all provincial elections.
President Nyusi followed the election results with a jubilant televised address to the nation.
“With more than 70% of the votes, I don’t see any teacher failing a student,” he said.
The election is seen as a turning point for the resource-rich country ravaged by economic problems, corruption and poverty.
Mondlane has called a national strike on Thursday to protest against alleged fraud.
He said the protests would honor his lawyer and a party official who were shot dead last week in what he described as politically motivated killings.
He claimed that he had won the election even though preliminary polls showed Chapo well ahead.
Mondlane now has until December to contest the outcome.
On Monday, he organized nationwide protests that were dispersed by police firing live bullets and tear gas.
The election was also criticized by EU election observers, who said some results may have been faked.
They said there were “irregularities in the vote counting process and unfounded changes in election results.”
Political analyst Adriano Nuvunga has criticized what he calls a fraudulent election model in Mozambique.
The election commission has refused to comment on allegations of vote fraud, according to Reuters.
Chapo will be sworn into office in January.
