Frelimo tramples MDM T-shirts and says there is no space for other parties in Homoine | CIP Mozambique Elections

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Frelimo tramples MDM T-shirts and says there is no space for other parties in Homoine | CIP Mozambique Elections

7:08 CAT | 05 Oct 2023

Photo: CIP

“Where Frelimo is, it make no sense for any other party to be there too.” Trampling on MDM t-shirts, the parliamentary deputy Dias Letela leading the campaign, says, says “We have plucked the feathers from the cockerels [the symbol of the MDM] as part of Operation Dismantle, which continues until 11 October. We are dismantling their uniform and dismantling their vote” (See video and photo below)

In another video, Félix Chandamela trampled t-shirts before they were put in a box. Their final destination is unknown, but it is assumed that they will later be burned. And he also suggests they are buying MDM t-shirts, which can be seen in this photo below.

The act of these Frelimo members represents the height of political hatred and intolerance. In Homoíne the vandalising of Renamo and MDM posters is prevalent, as a result of “Operation Dismantle”.

CNE says it is shocked by the attitude of Frelimo members

The National Elections Commission (CNE), through its spokesperson, Paulo Cuinica, has condemned the attitude of the Frelimo members in Homoíne and said it was “shocking” to see the pictures. Cuinica went further and said he did not expect such an attitude from members of a political party.

The CNE spokesperson said he had no doubt that this was “an electoral crime” adding “we expect the courts to deal with the matter”. For the CNE, this was an attitude that should be “condemned and punished in terms of the law”.

Cuinica also recognised that during the campaign there have been various episodes in which material has been vandalised. He wanted to see the vandals held responsible for their acts, because these episodes “may inflame people’s spirits and then we have situations that can blemish and endanger this election campaign”.

Clashes between Renamo and Frelimo in Ulongue and on Mozambique Island cause serious injuries

Renamo and Frelimo were involved in violent clashes in the municipality of Ulongue, Angónia district, in Tete province. The clashes, in which machetes were used, occurred last Thursday (28 September), when supporters of the two parties were in the same place at the same time for their political activities.

During the clashes, two people were seriously injured. One of them suffered a deep cut to the ligament of his elbow, which will probably result in the amputation of his arm. The other received seven cuts to his head, and had to receive dozens of stitches. This is the first serious incident that has occurred in these elections.

On Mozambique Island, the sixth day of the election campaign was agitated. The road from Lumbo to Jemesse was impassable during the entire afternoon. But what most marked the day were the clashes, first between Frelimo and Renamo, and later betwen Renamo and the MDM. The first clash resulted in two injuries, and one person was run over. Various threats were made between members of the two main parties.

The police had to resort to force and fired shots into the air to bring the situation under control. Some of the supporters of the two parties were drunk

In the clash between Renamo and the MDM there were no injuries. The confrontation resulted from the two parties not respecting the route for their parades which they had drawn up.

MDM protests Frelimo leaders named for election training

Frelimo party officials are being named as members of polling station staff and trainers, complains the MDM in Gurue, Zambézia. Provincial trainers include the head of the office of the assembly president in Gurue, the head of Nipivi locality, and three Frelimo candidates for municipal assembly. They also complain that trainers for polling station staff in Gurue are Frelimo officials from other districts, Namarroi and Ile.

MDM has muddied the water by saying that this is illegal because the National Elections Commission which, but the law does not apply to polling station staff and trainers. Indeed, there seems nothing in the electoral law thas incompatibilities.

But the electoral administration stresses neutrality and impartiality in elections, and that party candidates and party officials clearly are not neutral, and should not be selected as polling station staff and trainers.

In practice, furthermore, election law revisions pushed by the MDM and Renamo in 2013 gave the largest party in parliament – currently Frelimo – effective control of the electoral process.

This was used blatantly in the registration process in many places, where Frelimo supporters were registered first, and then suddenly the equipment did not work when opposition supporters tried to register. Many “ghost” voters have been registered. The danger is that having Frelimo candidates and officials as trainers means they will use the training to show Frelimo heads of polling stations how to include the ghost voters.

Having Frelimo trainers and Frelimo heads of polling stations is apparently not illegal, but it does given the ruling party an unfair advantage. This is not a “level playing field”.

Open war: MDM members campaign for Renamo in Alto Molócuè

Members of the MDM have finally taken to the streets in the municipality of Alto Molócuè, but not to support the campaign of their own party, but to support Renamo. They are organising the arrival of Renamo leader Ossufo Momade.

The support for Renamo arises because members of the party disapprove of the head of the MDM list, André Txetxema. He was imposed by the MDM provincial delegation. The local members wanted Gil da Cruz Sousa.
MDM members, interviewed by our team, on condition of anonymity, say that, even if they wear MDM T-shirts, at the ballot box, they will support RENAMO.

They also said that, in the Alto Molocue neighbourhoods, they are mobilising the electorate to vote for RENAMO and its mayoral candidate.

In brief

More than 50 teachers met in the Frelimo offices in the town of Mandlakazi, with the head of the Frelimo list, the deputy head of the Frelimo Gaza provincial brigade, Justino Paulo Langa, and other members of the brigade. The meeting paralysed the classes in several schools. At the event, the head of the list urged the teachers to vote for Frelimo.

The Frelimo Political Commission met on Tuesday (3 October) in Beira. On his arrival at Beira International Airport, Filipe Nyusi urged his party not to make false promises as some parties were doing. He claimed that so far his party’s campaign is taking place without any upsets.

Frelimo is blocking roads to wage its campaign in Chimoio city and the town of Sussundenga, in Manica province. Motorists were obliged to find alternative routes to reach their destinations.

Unknown assailants grabbed the mobile phone belonging to the CIP correspondent in Chókwè. This was the phone that contains information about the elections.