AFRICA/MOZAMBIQUE - Peaceful vote, despite tensions on the eve

Maputo (Agenzia Fides) - The presidential, political and provincial elections in Mozambique took place yesterday, October 15th. According to information gathered by Fides, the vote was not marked by episodes of violence, despite a tense eve, fueled also by the killing, by a special police unit on October 7 in the south of the country, of an electoral observer, Anastâcio Matavel, and instability in the north due to the presence of jihadist groups.
Some problems were also reported in the accreditation of electoral observers. For example, in the province of Tete, the local Diocesan "Justice and Peace" Commission complained that out of 698 own electoral observers, only 115 had received accreditation from the government in the immediacy of the vote.
The historic rivalry between the ruling party Frelimo (Liberation Front of Mozambique) and former armed opposition Renamo (Mozambican National Resistance), which had clashed in the long civil war (1975-1992) had rekindled in recent years. Renamo accuses Frelimo of being in power since 1975 by resorting to fraud and corruption.
On the eve of Pope Francis' visit to Mozambique, President Filipe Nyusi and leader Renamo Ossufo Momade signed a historic peace agreement on 6 August, which allowed the free and peaceful conduct of the vote (see Fides, 7/8/2019).
In addition to the President of the Republic, the electors were called to elect 250 members of the Parliament, 794 members of the provincial assemblies and for the first time 10 provincial governors. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 16/10/2019)

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