Death of Dhlakama discourages voter registration in Zambézia province

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Death of Dhlakama discourages voter registration in Zambézia province

2:20 CAT | 11 May 2018

People feel unmotivated without Dhlakama at the head of the Mozambican opposition. Some say that, after the death of the leader of Renamo, they will not register to vote, while others, who have already registered, say they will not vote.

In Zambezia province, central Mozambique, people say that the environment has changed since May 3, the day the leader of the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO), Afonso Dhlakama, who was buried this Thursday (10 May) ) in his hometown of Mangunde, died.

In Quelimane, the largest city in this province, some residents say they have lost their will to vote the October elections because Dhlakama has died. One such is “Tembe” who, in an interview with DW Africa, claims to be “disappointed”.

“I have registered to vote, but I no longer feel like doing anything for society or for the people. The influence [of voter registration] is very weak. We have lost a great lord who protected our country and freedom of expression,” said.

An opinion shared by Novénio Esvêncio, also resident in this province, who adds that the “climate of demotivation is general”.

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According to Novénio, there are many people “who have already registered” and who “say that they will not vote because the Renamo leader has died”.

Novénio also says that the “movement to the registration posts is very weak” with only “three or four people” turning up. A “painful” reality that this Mozambican finds “worrisome.”

Other residents say that, following the death of the leader of Renamo, they will not even register to vote. One citizen, who asked not to be named, told DW Africa that he would not register because Afonso Dhlakama was his main source of inspiration and because he hoped that with his help a Renamo mayor would be elected in Quelimane, as had happened in Nampula.

“Renamo did not die”

But there are also those who draw attention to the consequences of not participating in the elections.

“As a citizen of the city of Quelimane, I know that people are downcast and do not want to vote, but not registering will be worse. The Renamo leader might have passed away, but Renamo has not died,” another Mozambican who asked not to be named told DW Africa.

Possible extension of the deadline

Some eight million voters were expected to be counted in the 53 municipalities that will elect municipal assemblies and mayors on October 10, but these goals have not been reached.

According to figures recently released by Ismael Rodrigues, director of the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) in Quelimane, a significant number of voters have already registered for the elections.

In the Fifth Quarter, Quelimane’s furthest-flung residential suburb, registering has gone well, but Abibo Aliz, head of the voter registration post at Namuinho Elementary School, predicts that the process – scheduled for completion on May 17 – will be extended.

“Everything is going very well. There are days that we have registered 80 or 90 voters, but I think the voter registration will continue because there are still many more [to go],” he said.

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Source: Deutsche Welle