Renamo says will march to force extension of voter registration in Nampula

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Renamo says will march to force extension of voter registration in Nampula

2:20 CAT | 24 May 2019

File photo: Ikweli

The Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) party is to organise a march demanding the extension of the October 15 general election voter registration process.

Assembly of the Republic deputy Fernando Lavieque, a member of Renamo’s political commission in the province, said last Tuesday in Nampula city that his party “wants everyone to be registered to vote”.

“And I say further that in the next few days we’re going to start marching on the street demanding voter registration.”

Speaking in Nampula, Lavieque claimed that Frelimo wanted to benefit from reduced mandates, and that many voters in Nampula province, the largest constituency in the country, had been unable to register because of recurring problems in management of the process, especially regarding computers.

The source noted that this was happening “in the areas of the greatest Renamo influence”.

“Most offensive is that we have evidence of voter exclusion in areas under Renamo’s influence. The [voter registration] data up to Sunday reveals surprisingly the tendency to exclude certain areas, notably those where Renamo has unquestionable political domain,” the Nampula deputy alleges.

Lavieque told Ikweli newspaper that the districts of Mogovolas, Memba, Moma, Nacala-a-Velha, Larde and Rapale saw the fewest potential voters registered because of problems with computer equipment deliberately staged by process managers at Frelimo’s instigation.

“In the areas where Frelimo obtained advantage in the previous elections, registration is at levels above 70%. In Lalaua, for example, 80% of voters were registered,” Lavieque claimed.

To avoid the situation deteriorating further, Lavieque is demanding the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) “ensure constitutional guarantees, under penalty of fomenting chronic post-electoral conflicts at a time when we are committed to peace and national reconciliation”.

Source: Jornal Ikweli