CIP Mozambique Elections: Counting only started late at night and early in the morning at some polling stations – totally illegal

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CIP Mozambique Elections: Counting only started late at night and early in the morning at some polling stations – totally illegal

9:40 CAT | 10 Oct 2024

Nacala-Porto. [Photo: Rádio Watana - Emissora Católica da Diocese de Nacala, Moçambique]

The revised electoral law, published in August, gives MMVs a rest break of no more than one hour before the vote counting process begins. But at many polling stations the rest time was more than an hour and in some areas the count only started in the early hours of the morning, many hours after the polls closed.

In some polling stations, even when voting stopped a 6 pm, counting didn’t start until after 10pm. In other regions, such as Ngauma, in Niassa, counting only began after midnight. The opposition scrutineers at many of these polling stations were already asleep and others were overcome by fatigue. By limiting the break to an hour, the law was changed precisely to prevent this.

In all the districts where tabulation was delayed, polling station presidents had realised that the race would be close between Frelimo and Podemos and their respective candidates. In some places the process was interrupted when it was realised that Podemos and its presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane were winning in some polling stations. There are also districts where, after the end of the tabulation process, Frelimo requested a recount.

Our observers noted that Frelimo members were negotiating with opposition delegates by promising them money, jobs and positions, for those already working for the state. These cases occurred at several polling stations in various districts.