Mozambique Elections: Election campaign begins mostly calm – AIM

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Mozambique Elections: Election campaign begins mostly calm – AIM

9:07 CAT | 26 Aug 2024

Image: Radio Esperança FM 89.60Mhz

The campaign ahead of Mozambique’s general elections, scheduled for 9 October, began on Saturday, and was generally calm throughout the country.

The only significant clash reported was in the town of Nacala-a-Velha, in the northern province of Nampula. According to the bulletin published by the anti-corruption NGO, the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), the clash began when supporters of the ruling Frelimo Party, led by the district secretary of the OJM (Mozambique Youth Organisation, the Frelimo youth wing), went to a local sports field, and ordered the members of the opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), who were already there, to leave. They claimed that only the Frelimo Party could post material in that place.

The Frelimo supporters began to destroy the MDM material and place their own posters on top of the MDM ones, which provoked a reaction from the MDM members. The two sides clashed violently, and the case is now with the district police command.

It is not yet clear how many people were injured, but they received medical treatment at the Nacala-a-Velha health centre.

There were reports of the illicit use of state-owned vehicles for campaign purposes from at least five districts. In Chonguene, in the southern province of Gaza, and in Nangade and Ibo, in Cabo Delgado in the far north, Frelimo was accused of the illegal use of state cars.

But opposition parties were caught committing the same crime. In the central city of Beira, where the municipal council is run by the MDM, it was MDM members who were seen using state vehicles, while in Quelimane, capital of Zambezia province, it was Renamo supporters who abused these state assets.

In many towns, campaign posters were torn down by political opponents within hours of being posted. There were at least 20 such incidents, CIP reported. The destruction of campaign material is a crime, but since is usually happens under cover of darkness, the culprits are rarely arrested.

Three of the four presidential candidates were campaigning on the streets on the first day of the campaign. Both the Frelimo and the MDM candidates, Daniel Chapo and Lutero Simango, launched their campaigns in Beira, while the independent candidate, Venancio Mondlane, was urging the public to vote for him in the southern city of Matola.

But the fourth candidate, Renamo leader Ossufo Momade, did not campaign on Saturday. Instead the Renamo campaign was launched, in Quelimane, by the party’s General Secretary, Clementina Bomba, who declared that a Renamo victory in the general elections is “a national imperative”.

There is no indication yet as to when Momade will start campaigning – which is certain to raise questions about his health and his fitness to continue leading Renamo.

Source: AIM