Mozambique: IMF decision on future aid prompted by electoral observers – analyst

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Mozambique: IMF decision on future aid prompted by electoral observers – analyst

7:28 CAT | 23 Oct 2019

The director of the IMF's Africa Department, Abebe Selassie. [Photo: IMF]

The overall positive assessment by international observation missions of last week’s general elections in Mozambique has contributed to the International Monetary Fund’s considering resuming financial aid to the country, according to a leading economic analyst.

“There are important consequences,” said João Mosca, chief researcher and executive director at Mozambique’s Rural Observatory (OMR), of the observers’ assessments of the elections, whose results have been queried by the opposition. “The IMF has already come out and said that it is ready to negotiate support for Mozambique.”

In turn, Mosca noted, international organisations, “many embassies and aid missions follow the IMF’s lead a lot.”

Partial official results from the 6 October elections point to a significant victory for the governing Frelimo party, but opposition parties and civil society organisations have alleged widespread electoral fraud and problems with voter registration.

The director of the IMF’s Africa Department, Abebe Selassie, told Lusa on Friday in Washington, during the Fund’s annual meetings, that the institution was ready to consider a new “medium-term” financial aid agreement for Mozambique, if the country’s government makes a formal request.

This scenario has emerged even after an electoral campaign marked by violence and suspected electoral fraud, which prompted opposition parties Renamo and the MDM to reject the results, Mosca noted.

“What occurred, with incidents of violence, has been recorded in images and documents,” he said, arguing that there were situations that could justify “the repetition of the elections.”

He argued that the positive assessment made by some observers has to do with the economic interests that multinationals and some countries have in common with Frelimo.

“The elections show that international cooperation [institutions] want Frelimo in power and not others,” he explained, adding that while opposition parties fail to show “negotiating capacity, debate of ideas, openness with society and with the party in power, it is legitimate that cooperation has its opinion.”

With results from 10 of the 11 provinces already released, Frelimo and its leader, President Filipe Nyusi, emerge victorious, with absolute majorities in the presidential, legislative and provincial elections.

After results come in from all provinces, the final results are to be announced at a public ceremony on 30 October by the president of the National Elections Commission (CNE).

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