IESE report explains low Nampula turnout – By Joseph Hanlon

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IESE report explains low Nampula turnout – By Joseph Hanlon

8:05 CAT | 19 Feb 2018

Twitter @CastiaoP

Low turnout in Nampula was due to MDM splits, irrelevant campaign messages, and CNE/STAE disorganisation, according to a study by Prof. Salvador Forquilha, director of IESE (Instituto de Estudos Socias e Economicos, Social and Economic Studies Institute) published 13 February.

Based on semi-structured interviews and focus groups in Nampula, the study points to three issues which overlapped to discourage voting:

+ Political context: First, the split in the MDM, with the majority backing mayor Amurane but a group linked to the national leadership opposing the mayor, clearly weakened the MDM in the election. Second, “In the context of a visible popularity of the mayor, his murder ended up demotivating an important part of local citizens, not only in relation to politics, but also to an eventual election,” Forquilha notes.

+ Election campaign: All parties campaigned on the improving rubbish collection. But Forquilha points out that most voters live in suburban neighbourhoods that do not have any rubbish collection, so voters were not interested. Surveys show that their priorities are roads and water, which were not made campaign issues. It showed the “limited vision” of the candidates.

+ Election management: “Poor functioning and disorganisation of the electoral management bodies had an important role in abstention.”

The report “Primeira volta da eleicao intercalar de Nampula: de novo, a abstencao ganhou” is on http://www.iese.ac.mz/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ideias-98-SForquilha.pdf

IESE has done extensive research on Mozambican elections, and 30 of its reports are available on http://www.iese.ac.mz/publicacoes-iese-sistema-eleitoral/

By Joseph Hanlon

Source: 2018 Local Elections - 16  / Mozambique Political Process Bulletin