Mozambique Elections: Voters to choose between renewal or continuity in Provincial Governments

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Mozambique Elections: Voters to choose between renewal or continuity in Provincial Governments

7:00 CAT | 08 Oct 2024

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Carta]

More than 17.1 million voters, spread across the country and in some countries in Africa and the world, will be called upon to elect the new head of state and new members of parliaments this Wednesday.

Of this universe, a little over 16.1 million voters will also elect the new members of their provincial assemblies, with the head of the winning list expected to become the governor of the province. The election will take place in 10 provinces, since the City of Maputo has a special status.

Eight of the ten provinces hosting elections will decide between changing or continuing their respective governorships, with the exception of the provinces of Inhambane and Nampula, whose candidates are trying to reach that post for the first time.

According to the choices made by the country’s three main parties, the candidates for the post of governor of the province of Maputo are Manuel Tule, current governor; Fátima Mimbire, from the MDM, and António Muchanga, from Renamo. Tule became governor when Júlio Parruque resigned to become mayor of Matola.

In Gaza province, Margarida Mapandzene is trying to renew her term of office for Frelimo, while the MDM indicated activist Agnaldo Navalha and Renamo chose Félix Tivane.

In Inhambane, Frelimo chose Francisco Pagula, now serving as administrator of Vilankulo, the MDM list is headed by Joana Jorge, while Renamo chose João Rego.

Pagula is on the list of Frelimo candidates who are running for the first time. In 2019, Daniel Chapo led the ruling party’s list in Inhambane, but in May he had to resign as governor after being selected as the candidate for the office of head of state.

In Sofala province, André Magibire, former Secretary-General of Renamo; Lourenço Bulha (current Governor), for Frelimo; and José Domingos, former Secretary-General for the MDM, are running for the office of governor.

In Manica, Francisca Tomás once again leads the Frelimo list, while Elisa Sabão heads the MDM list and Saimone Macuiane, a former MP, is the first on the Renamo list.

In Tete province, Domingos Viola once again deserves Frelimo’s trust and Elvino Ferrão is Renamo’s choice, while Carlos Chataica heads the MDM list.

In Zambézia, the choice is between Pio Matos (the current governor) for Frelimo; Bruno Dramusse, for the MDM; and the Mayor of Quelimane, Manuel de Araújo, for Renamo.

In Nampula province, Eduardo Abdula, for Frelimo, Priest Fernão Magalhães Raul, for the MDM; and Abiba Aba Linha for Renamo will be competing for the position of provincial governor. Abdula entered the list to replace Manuel Rodrigues, who was rejected by the Frelimo party leadership after refusing to head the list of that political party in the city of Nampula in the 2023 local elections.

In Niassa, Orlando Leite e Souza heads the Renamo list and Elina Judite Massengele again leads the Frelimo list, while Damião Songueia heads the MDM list.

Finally, in Cabo Delgado, Frelimo is putting forward Valige Tauabo, while the MDM launched Santos Abílio and Renamo runs with a list headed by ngela Eduardo.

In 2019, Frelimo was the sole winner of all provincial elections throughout the country, having taken command of all of the first elected provincial governments.

Source: Carta de Moçambique