Mozambique Elections: Renamo accuses government of intimidating diplomatic corps

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Mozambique Elections: Renamo accuses government of intimidating diplomatic corps

7:33 CAT | 27 Nov 2023

Image: Integrity

Ossufo Momade does not recognize the results of the local elections proclaimed by the Constitutional Council and has called on the population to continue its demonstrations.

Ossufo Momade, the president of Renamo, the main opposition party in Mozambique, this Saturday accused the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Verónica Macamo, of “intimidation of the diplomatic corps” and of fraud in the municipal elections on October 11.

“Because the Frelimo party [party in power] is aware of its bitter defeat, we saw, very recently, the leader of this party dressed in the cape of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation intimidating the diplomatic corps accredited in the Republic of Mozambique and international organisations not to express their positions in relation to electoral fraud,” Momade said.

The leader of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) was speaking during a press conference in which he announced that the main opposition party did not recognize the results of the October 11 local elections proclaimed on Friday by the Constitutional Council (CC).

“We take this opportunity to thank these [international] entities for their open support for peace and democracy in Mozambique,” Momade declared.

The international community, Momade continued, must not give in to “threats” allegedly made by the Mozambican authorities, because “above Frelimo are the Mozambican people and their interests”.

On Wednesday, the Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Verónica Macamo, told ambassadors that she believed the process of the sixth local elections would “end well”, asking the international community to trust the country’s institutions to resolve disputes.

“We have faith that this process, like the previous ones, will end well, as Mozambicans want peace and development in the country,” was the message that Verónica Macamo conveyed, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson José Matsinhe told journalists after a closed-door meeting in Maputo with diplomatic missions, which included Brazil, Italy, Angola, South Africa, France, Kenya, Russia, Japan and China.

At the meeting, the minister and the diplomatic corps spoke about the three phases of the sixth local elections on October 11, namely the pre-electoral, electoral and post-electoral, with the Mozambican diplomat stating that the process demonstrated the “vitality, growth and consolidation” of the country’s democracy.

For the minister, according to the spokesperson, all phases of the vote took place in accordance with the principles and norms of Mozambican law, and the “massive participation” of voters was a “clear illustration of the fulfilment of their rights and duties”.

The head of Mozambican diplomacy called on the international community to trust the country’s people and institutions in resolving their disputes, thanking diplomats for their support and solidarity.

In addition to being Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Verónica Macamo is the Frelimo party election agent.

This Saturday, the president of Renamo said in Maputo that the main opposition party does not recognize the results of the local elections proclaimed by the Constitutional Council (CC), calling on the population to demonstrate.

The CC, the last instance of appeal in electoral processes in Mozambique, on Friday proclaimed Frelimo the winner of the municipal elections on 11 October in 56 municipalities, against the CNE’s previous 64, with Renamo winning four, and ordered elections to be repeated in four others.

“In view of this shame for democracy and the denial of the will of Mozambicans, the Renamo party reiterates that it does not recognize the published results,” the president of Renamo said at a press conference.

The main political force of the opposition “encourages all Mozambicans to continue with the demonstrations” and will turn to international organisations to restore the “electoral truth”, he elaborated.

Source: Lusa