Mozambique Elections: Islamic institutions call for “impartial” action in response to “irregularities”

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Mozambique Elections: Islamic institutions call for “impartial” action in response to “irregularities”

6:46 CAT | 08 Nov 2023

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Lusa]

A group of 15 Mozambican Islamic institutions today called on the Constitutional Council to “take into account all complaints and irregularities” concerning the recent municipal electoral process, calling for “fair, independent and impartial” action.

In a statement, the institutions subscribing to the document, which include the Muslim Association of Mozambique, the Islamic Congress of Mozambique, the Mahometana Community and the Islamic Community of Mozambique, say they are “concerned about allegations of serious irregularities in the recent tabulation of the results of the municipal electoral process”, which “have resulted in demonstrations with some signs of violence”.

They “call on all those involved in the process to collaborate in the prevention of violence and to strive for the continuation of the construction of peace, achieved with great effort and sacrifice”.

“We call on the judicial authorities, especially the Constitutional Council, to take into account all complaints and irregularities related to the electoral process and to act in a fair, independent and impartial manner, equidistant from political pressure, in defence of the rule of law and in defence of a Mozambique truly committed to fair, free and transparent elections,” the statement reads.

The document urges political parties and authorities “to ensure the containment of acts of violence related to electoral processes and to resolve the disputes on the basis of constructive dialogues that lead to an understanding between the parties”.

The streets of some Mozambican cities, including Maputo, have been taken over by consecutive opposition demonstrations dubbed as a “repudiation” of the “mega-fraud” in the process of the October 11th municipal elections and the results announced by the National Elections Commission (CNE), which attributed victory to the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo, the ruling party) in 64 of the country’s 65 municipalities, and which have been heavily criticised by opposition parties, civil society and non-governmental organisations.

The Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), which in the previous 53 municipalities (12 new municipalities were created this year) won eight, was left without any municipalities, despite claiming victory in the country’s largest cities, based on the original minutes and notices of the assemblies vote, and has appealed to the Constitutional Council, the last court of appeal in the electoral process.

Source: Lusa