Mozambique votes in tense election likely to see ruling party win
Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo widely expected to win
Observers have reported vote-rigging in past elections
Winner will have to deal with Islamist insurgency and economic challenges
By Nellie Peyton and Manuel Mucari
MAPUTO, Oct 9 (Reuters) -Mozambique votes on Wednesday in a tense general election highly likely to deliver victory to the ruling party, Frelimo, which has governed the Southern African nation since 1975.
Four candidates are vying to replace President Filipe Nyusi, who is stepping down after serving two terms. The favourite is Daniel Chapo, 47, a lawyer viewed as a safe choice for business and a fresh face for the long-ruling party.
He faces Venancio Mondlane, a charismatic independent candidate who draws huge crowds, former rebel commander Ossufo Momade, and a small opposition party leader, Lutero Simango.
Dozens of posters of Chapo's face were pasted along Maputo's palm tree-lined seaside promenade, and red Frelimo flags flew over streets flanked by high rises dispersed with Portuguese colonial buildings. No opposition poster was in sight.
Poverty is the major concern of Mozambique's 35 million people, about half of them registered to vote. An Islamist insurgency in the north that has forced thousands to flee their homes and halted multi-billion dollar gas projects also weighs.
"The next president must create jobs. We are tired of hearing promises," said Amandio Sergio, 32, a small business owner in the seaside capital.
Frelimo first allowed elections in 1994 and has since been accused of rigging them, which it denies. Rebel force turned-opposition party Renamo usually comes a distant second.
Mondlane poses a challenge to both this year, but lacks the machinery of established parties and may struggle to win votes in rural areas, analyst Dercio Alfazema said.
"This election is different because we have new actors ... (but) Frelimo has a big probability to win," Alfazema said.
Chapo has experience in local government but has not been tainted by Frelimo's corruption scandals, he added.
Counting will start after the polls close at 6 p.m. (1600 GMT), although it can take up to two weeks for official results.
A disputed outcome would likely trigger protests, which broke out after Frelimo swept last year's municipal elections and were forcefully suppressed.
Apathy may dampen them, however.
"I feel it doesn't make any difference," 26-year-old fisherman Mussa Issufo said of the poll.
"Nothing ever changes."
Reporting by Nellie Peyton and Manuel Mucari; Additional reporting by Thando Hlophe and Sisipho Skweyiya
Editing by Tim Cocks and Sandra Maler
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
