Mozambique Elections: Quelimane mayor promises to take proof of fraud to international community – Watch

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Mozambique Elections: Quelimane mayor promises to take proof of fraud to international community – Watch

3:39 CAT | 14 Oct 2024

Screen grab: Manuel Araujo /Facebook

The mayor of the central Mozambican city of Quelimane, Manuel de Araújo, claims that he has evidence of fraud that stained last Wednesday’s presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections.

Araujo was the candidate for the main opposition party, Renamo, for governor of Zambezia province. From the results so far available, he seems to have lost to the incumbent governor, and candidate of the ruling Frelimo Party, Pio Matos.

According to Araújo, speaking though social media channels, Wednesday’s election was deeply damaged by fraud that prejudiced opposition parties, and “with these situations, we cannot say that Mozambique is a democratic country.”

“I have videos and copies of ballot papers that are outside of the system controlled by the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE) and the National Elections Commission (CNE). I already have enough evidence to be able to prove in any national, regional, continental or international court, the existence of electoral fraud in Mozambique”, he said.

Araújo said that right now he is in Holland, on what he described as “another diplomatic mission aimed at rescuing democratic values in Mozambique”.

He explained that he has resorted to Europe and to the USA in order to awaken international public opinion about the electoral fraud committed by the electoral management bodies in Mozambique.

“‘Some people believe that we must first resort to internal bodies before resorting to the international ones. I agree and respect that opinion, but my experience shows that anticipation is fundamental; a man forewarned is worth two forearmed. That’s why I decided, and it wasn’t easy to make that decision, to travel in order to inform the international community about the scenario that characterizes Mozambique”, he said.

“I want to challenge everyone to take an open-minded look at the elections, correct what is wrong and put Mozambique on the road to democracy”, said Araujo. “I’m doing my part, which is small. I have videos, evidence, photos and original ballot papers to show the international community that there is fraud in Mozambique”.

Source: AIM