Mozambique elections: Observation platform warns of rising “hate speech and intimidation”

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Mozambique elections: Observation platform warns of rising “hate speech and intimidation”

3:42 CAT | 19 Nov 2019

File photo: RFI

The Mozambican electoral observation platform ‘Monitor – Justiça, Paz e Democracia’ warned yesterday of the consequences of political intolerance in Mozambique, condemning the rise of “hate speech and intimidation” between political parties in the last election.

“Political parties and their supporters have prompted hate speech and intimidation among the electorate by illegally collecting electoral cards and data without any justification,” the final report from the electoral platform ‘Monitor – Justice, Peace and Democracy’ on Mozambique October 15 elections reads.

Monitor, which brings together six civil society organisations, condemns aggression among political party supporters and the detention of observers during the October 15 ballot.

“The recommendations that the Monitor Platform makes in its final report are aimed at improving the political environment as regards tolerance and respect for partisan differences,” the report reads, going on to denounce the persecution of Mozambican political activists and demand greater security.

The platform also condemns the use of children during the campaign and attempts to stuff ballot boxes in favour of the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) party.

“Some voters could not vote because their names were not on the list, or had already been crossed out as if they had already voted, or someone had voted in their place,” the document adds.

Monitor observed the electoral process in 20 districts in Maputo, Gaza, Sofala, Manica, Zambezia, Nampula and Cabo Delgado provinces.

The election results announced by the National Election Commission gave Frelimo a significant victory, with Filipe Nyusi re-elected as president with 73% of the first-round vote. In parliament, Frelimo took 184 out of 250 deputies, or 73.6%, more than two-thirds of the seats needed to approve constitutional amendments.

In addition to opposition parties, some of which have already had their appeals rejected by the Constitutional Council, several observer missions have also raised questions and concerns about the elections.

The Mozambican National Election Commission expressed “concern” about “some irregularities”, citing these as reasons for failing to describe the general elections as “free, fair and transparent” when announcing the results.

Source: Lusa