Mozambique: US environment agency recognises Maputo's commitment
Photo: O País
Mozambique’s president, Filipe Nyusi, on Thursday called for calm until the released of definitive results from the country’s municipal elections, declaring that the exercise had been an “eloquent example of democratic coexistence” – in direct contradiction of criticisms of the electoral process from non-governmental organisations.
The municipal elections, Mozambique’s fifth since its independence from Portugal, took place on 10 October in 53 municipalities.
“We urge Mozambicans to keep calm and respect the laws, while awaiting the announcement of definitive results,” Nyusi said in a statement to the nation made at the presidential palace.
According to Nyusi, “democracy won” on 10 October as “the will of the people prevailed”, as shown in the preliminary results already released.
“We have given an eloquent example of democratic coexistence, even though some acts of violence have been recorded that we vehemently condemn,” he said.
In addition to congratulating the electoral bodies and the political parties that took part in the elections, the president highlighted the work of Mozambique police throughout the process, saying that the force had shown impartiality.
“I congratulate the police … for having managed to maintain order and security and for having prevented in some cases the occurrence of acts of violence, protecting citizens without considering their party colour,” Nyusi said.
A group of electoral observers known as Votar Moçambique, made up of seven civil society organisations based in the country, on Wednesday condemned the electoral process, citing “several cases of intimidation” of journalists, voters and opposition candidates, including “clear situations of electoral violence”.
Police, “did not have a neutral role,” said Edson Cortez, director of the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), a non-governmental organisation, adding that members of the governing party, Frelimo, were involved in violence but were not detained.
On the same day, Amnesty International denounced an alleged “witch hunt” in the province of Nampula, in the north of the country, with several complaints of death threats after the governing party was defeated in that region in municipal elections there.
“This is a post-electoral witch hunt that targets anyone who expresses critical views of the government and is suspected of joining the main opposition party [Renamo] in Nampula,” said AI in a statement.
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