Zambezia: Opposition accuses Frelimo of fraud in voter registration – Mozambique

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Zambezia: Opposition accuses Frelimo of fraud in voter registration – Mozambique

1:18 CAT | 29 Mar 2018

The MDM and Renamo say the ruling party is forcing state officials to register in districts in which they do not reside to vote, and the Islamic community has asked for vigilance in the process that ends on May 17.

A week after the start of the voter registration for the municipal elections in Mozambique, which take place on October 10 of this year, the process is already coming in for criticism.

In addition to civilians and religious leaders, political parties, namely the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) and the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), are pointing the finger at the Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo), questioning the ability of people hired to work with computer equipment, particularly in data processing, and complaining of delays in the opening of registration posts.

In an interview with DW Africa, Renamo delegate in Quelimane, Latifo Charifo, accused Frelimo of mobilising citizens residing in other districts to go and register as residents of the city so that they will be able to vote there in October.

QUALITÃT Wahlkampagne Quelimane Mosambik - Latifo Sharifo RENAMO Partei (DW/M. Mueia) — *Latifo Charifo, Renamo delegate in Quelimane*

“We have information that teachers and other employees of Nicoadala are registering in the Gogone neighbourhood. There are neighbourhood secretaries and ladies who are coming to Quelimane to be able to vote for the party in October,” he says.

The same is happening in Cabo Delgado, national Renamo representative André Majibire says. At a press conference in Maputo, he said that the party had been made aware of people from the Montepuez district registering to vote in municipalities in Nampula.

Renamo’s national representative accused community leaders linked to Frelimo in Tete province, central Mozambique, of “ripping out” voter cards to put names of non-voting citizens on them.

Technicians without training

MDM delegate Listano Evaristo is worried too, saying “at the registration posts, the population is being prevented from registering to allow employees coming from the [outside] districts [to be registered instead].”

Mosambik Listano Evaristo MDM-Delegierter in Quelimane (DW/M. Mueia) — *Listano Evaristo, MDM delegate in Quelimane*

Evaristo also says that “most of the technicians hired by the Technical Secretariat for the Electoral Administration (STAE) are from Frelimo, while there are many young people with information technology training who have not been recruited – a situation that is not satisfactory”.

Both Renamo and the MDM have contacted the press in recent weeks to denounce these irregularities, which they see as “aiming to hand Frelimo victory in the elections in October”.

“Plan of mobilisation”

Frelimo denies the allegations and says that it is only mobilising its employees to go register. Santos Emilio Gonçalves, spokesman for the Quelimane city committee of Frelimo, says he “does not see reasons for the accusations, because each party has its strategy for the mobilising its members for active participation in election processes.”

According to this official, Frelimo is simply “mobilising its comrade employees, but not with any obligation to register because they are employees”. “Every party has its mobilisation plan,” he says. “It cannot be frightened off by another party’s plan.”

“Everyone has their strategy. If we, Frelimo, are mobilising the population of neighbourhoods and comrade employees, this is our strategy of mobilisation, and cannot be seen as an infraction,” he explains.

Stating that “the process is proceeding normally,” Gonçalves appeal to everyone to register. “Not only Frelimo members – the whole population must register,” he says.

Islamic community calls for “vigilance”

DInusso Ismail, from the Islamic community of Quelimane, told DW Africa that he was afraid that abstentions in October would be high. “I am very worried about the abstention rate. People are discouraged, and think that voting or registering will not change anything. We are going through very difficult and troubled times, but everyone must express their preference, because that makes a difference,” he said.

Concerning the accusations against Frelimo in the first week of voter registration, the religious leader notes that “there is nothing permanent about democracy”.

“We have to be prepared to win and to lose. Those who lose have to honour those who win and those who win must respect those who lose. We have to be honest. This manoeuvring will not change anything or help us govern properly,” Ismail says, while calling for continued vigilance. “Party delegates should be vigilant and report irregularities when they occur,” he says.

Source: Deutsche Welle