Mozambique kicks off election campaigns ahead of October 9 polls

Aug. 24, 2024, 3:24 p.m.

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Citizens will cast their votes for president, parliament, and regional authorities in the October 9 election. President Filipe Nyusi, 69, is ineligible for re-election due to term limits.

The Frelimo party, which has held a dominant position in Mozambican politics since the civil war, aims to maintain its winning streak. Frelimo has consistently secured victories in national elections and currently holds a substantial majority in local government, setting the stage for a competitive election against its main rival, Renamo, a former rebel group turned opposition party.

Advertisement The presidential contest will see the ruling party’s Daniel Chapo, a 47-year-old provincial governor, face off against Renamo’s Ossufo Momade, 63.

The other two candidates for president are Lutero Simango, 64, from the country’s second opposition party Democratic Movement of Mozambique, and former Renamo member Venancio Mondlane, 50, who is running as an independent.

Carlos Matsinhe, the president of the electoral commission, issued a call for a peaceful campaign on Friday, urging candidates to refrain from inciting hatred and division.

“We must avoid physical violence and other forms of injustice, because all candidates are fellow countrymen and only occasional opponents,” said Matsinhe, who is an Anglican bishop.

In October, a minimum of two individuals lost their lives during protests related to the outcomes of local elections. These protests witnessed law enforcement officials opening fire on demonstrators in several urban centers.

Renamo initiated the protests after Frelimo was declared the victor in 64 out of 65 local authorities, alleging electoral fraud and asserting their own victory in the capital city of Maputo.

Since the conclusion of the war for independence from Portugal in 1975, Renamo has not achieved victory in any national election.

The electoral commission approved the candidate lists of 35 political parties running for parliament and 14 parties and citizens’ groups standing for local authorities.

Fought between Renamo and Frelimo, Mozambique’s civil war lasted from 1977 to 1992, devastating the economy and leaving nearly one million people dead.

The nation ranks seventh from the bottom on the Human Development Index, a ranking compiled by the United Nations Development Programme, which encompasses 191 countries.

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