Mozambique Elections: Renamo accuses electoral bodies of falsifying the results - AIM
People voting at Laulame Secondary school, Maputo city. In file CoM
Across the 53 municipalities, turnout was 60.3% on 10 October, significantly above previous municipal elections (2013 – 46%, 2008 – 46% and 2003 – 28%) Maputo turnout was 63% and Matola 59% compared to 50% and 38% five years ago. Four places had turnout over 70% with Metangula topping the list at 77%. Malema had the lowest turnout, at 39%.
Nationally, Frelimo won 51.78% of valid votes, Renamo 38.90%, and MDM 8.50%, with small parties and citizens lists gaining only 0.82%.
Only 2.77% of votes were invalid (nulo). But levels were suspiciously high in 5 municipalities: Moatize 7.35% (the highest in the election), Chiure 6.72%, Ulongue 6.39%, Nhamayabue 6.01% and Gurue 5.94%. There were 1.86% blank votes and only one unusual municipality, Monapo with 6.17% of voters putting a blank paper in the ballot box.
In Matola, Beira, and seven other municipalities, the mayor will not have a majority in the municipal assembly. This will require an agreement with at least one other party in order to govern effectively. Under the new municipalities law, if the Municipal Assembly does not approve the municipality’s five year plan or other key documents, the Council of Ministers can force new elections – but is not required to.
These numbers are from final election results as issued by the city and district election commissions, some of which are contested.
Of 53 municipalities:
Frelimo – 39 municipalities confirmed
Renamo – 8 confirmed – Quelimane, Ilha de Moçambique, Angoche, Nacala, Chiure, Nampula, Malema, Cuamba
MDM – 1 – Beira
Renamo is challenging at least 5 Frelimo wins – Alto Molocue, Moatize, Monapo, and Matola where the margin was 1% or less, and Marromeu where police took ballot boxes.
Complaints about local elections are submitted to the district courts, and any decision can be appealed to the Constitutional Council. Renamo has already submitted an appeal to the Tete city court. Complaints in Chimoio and Matola are being submitted jointly by Renamo and MDM. Independent of complaints to the courts, party nominated members will raise these issues within the National Elections Commission, which must confirm or change the district results by Thursday 25 October.
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