CIP Mozambique Elections: Observers find more problems in opposition zones

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CIP Mozambique Elections: Observers find more problems in opposition zones

7:57 CAT | 24 May 2023

File photo: STAE

Observers find high levels of problems, especially in opposition controlled municipalities which Frelimo is trying to win

Observers found that in the 4th week of observation, 11-18 May 2023, that 28% of registration posts visited showed significant problems. These largely relate to inability to print voters cards and to shortages of materials. Nationally 28% of polling stations had problems, which is very high after a pilot registration and three weeks of actual operation.

The highest level of problems was in 9 opposition municipalities which Frelimo is trying to win, ranging from 38% in Beira up to 70% in Quelimane, 74% in Morrumbala, 75% in Nacala-Porto and 100% in Marromeu.

But even in Frelimo voting areas there were significant problems – 17% of registration posts in Gaza and 20% in Maputo city and province.

The biggest problem is the inability of STAE to respond to requests for supplies or technical assistance. In the worst cases, brigades said they had gone a week without a response. The 17-20% level of problems in the south suggests serious deficiencies on the part of STAE. But the very high levels in opposition zones suggest something else is happening there, pointing to passive or active intervention of make it harder for voters in opposition zones to register.

Over all, registration posts in opposition areas are having significantly more problems that those in Frelimo zones. We believe this to be political.

But there is a high rate of problems even in Frelimo zones, and that some opposition areas such as Moatize and Alto Molócuè have well run registration posts with the same level of problems as Frelimo zones.

The observers are from Mais Integridade, the only civil society observation of the registrations.

Detailed results

The tables below give the percentage of observed registration posts with problems during observation visits, by province and by municipality. The break is at 1/3 with problems. For the municipalities with more than 1/3 we give the current number of seats in municipal assembly, with all being opposition controlled.

The details for the nine municipalities with more than 1/3 with problems are:

Marromeu is the worst municipality, where no registration post was able to print voters cards while people who registered were still there. Cards were printed and handed out later.

Nacala Porto is next worst with problems in 75% of visits by observers. The main problem was not printing voters cards, allegedly because of lack of rolls of blank cards. Several posts had not printed cards for seven days. EPC Nacarula had registered 920 voters during a week without printing cards. Where material did eventually arrive, some brigades starting printing cards in the post at 5 am or continued after the post closed. The observer was banned from one post, EPC 25 de Setembro. Two posts gave priority to friends and Frelimo.

Morrumbala was next with 74% of visits with problems. Here the biggest problem was a lack of registration forms (Boletins de inscrição), followed by printer problems. There seems no clear understanding of the location of the municipal boundary.

In Quelimane 70% of visits showed problems, mainly lack of registration forms and printer problems. Two-thirds of posts were not issuing voters cards. Several posts with priority lists.

In Angoche 63% of visits showed problems. In three registration posts observers were banned or restricted to a short period of time. Printer problems were widespread and in more than half voters were not receiving cards.

In Malema, with 48% problems, they were again printer problems and lack of registration forms. At EPC Ewili (Mucuassula) the printer had not been working for two weeks. In Muhissa, the printer was repaired but broke down three days later.

In Cuamba, with 44% problems, three posts were completely closed and many other had equipment problems. At Escola Secundária de Cuamba the school stopped supplying electricity; the post at EPC de Majaua had been closed for three days due to lack of electricity and equipment problems. At EPC Josina Machel state employees were given priority which caused a disturbance in the queue.

In Nampula city, with 44% problems, it was the common problems of computer or printer breakdowns and lack of registration forms. In 8 polling stations visited cards were not being issued; at EPC – Mutomote the printer had not worked for two weeks. At EP1 – Kanloca there was not enough sun to allowed the solar panels to work. At several posts some staff and even supervisors were missing; on one visit to Escola Secundária de Maparra only one person was working. At EPC-1 de Junho the printer had not worked for six days. Complaints about long queues and slow working.

In Beira with 38% problems, observers were barred from five registration posts. Three posts lacked electricity. In others the problems were largely printers.

The data and how we defined “problem”

The data is taken from 843 reports of visits to registration posts in 26 municipalities by Mais Integridade, 11 though 18 May 2023. Some registration posts were visited more than once. Data is presented as the %age of visits showing a problem.

Observers are asked 30 questions about each visit to a registration post. We defined a registration post as having a “problem” if the observer report showed at least one of these four issues:

at the time of the visit, the post did not have all the necessary material available (such as registration forms and voter cards) or some equipment (computer, camera, printer) was not functioning (Q10).

the registering process was interrupted during the visit (Q24)

voters cards were not being given to at least some people (Q21)

the observer was not allowed to observe (Q5)

There is one new municipality in the group, Morrumbala, which does not yet have a municipal assembly. To estimate past voting, we look at votes for the provincial assembly, which are disaggregated by district. Votes in 2019 were manipulated so that Frelimo, impossibly, won in all districts. So we use the vote in 2014, where the district had a Renamo majority

The data from observers also shows some additional information: