Mozambique’s opposition party, Renamo, has called for the annulment of the results of the October 9th general elections, citing widespread allegations of electoral fraud. Renamo’s leader, Ossufo Momade, made the demand during a press conference held at the party’s headquarters in the capital, Maputo, on Monday.
Momade accused the ruling Frelimo Party of manipulating the election outcome, claiming that the official results, which show Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo winning the presidency with 70.67% of the vote, are fraudulent. According to the preliminary figures, Momade received just 5.81%. The opposition party has vehemently rejected these results, alleging “vote theft” and linking the alleged fraud to the wave of protests and violence that have erupted across the country in recent days.
“The protests, which have resulted in several fatalities, are a direct consequence of the electoral theft orchestrated by the ruling party,” said Momade, pointing to police involvement in the violence. He criticized the Attorney-General’s Office (PGR) for failing to intervene and stop the deaths caused by police forces during the demonstrations.
While Renamo has not been the main force behind the protests, independent presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, supported by the Podemos party, has emerged as a prominent figure in opposing the election results. Mondlane claims that he won the presidential race and that his party, Podemos, led the parliamentary polls. However, Mondlane has yet to present the official polling station results to substantiate these claims.
Under Mozambique’s constitution, the only body with the authority to annul election results is the Constitutional Council. Momade, however, did not elaborate on the party’s next steps should the council refuse to annul the election, nor did he threaten a return to armed conflict. Instead, he suggested the formation of a “caretaker government” to oversee the functioning of state institutions until new, free, and fair elections can be held.
Despite acknowledging the need for electoral reforms, Momade avoided addressing the key issue of depoliticizing the electoral bodies. The politicization of the National Elections Commission (CNE) has been a contentious issue since the 1992 peace agreement, which allowed Renamo to appoint a third of CNE members. Frelimo, with its majority in parliament, has consistently had more representatives on the commission. Attempts to reform the CNE in 2008 and 2012, to make it independent from political parties, were blocked by Renamo, effectively preserving the current system.
As tensions rise, the future of Mozambique’s electoral process remains uncertain, with both sides calling for urgent reforms to ensure the legitimacy of the country’s political institutions.