Renamo monitor denounces use of clandestine lists to exclude members of his party, and is expelled from the post
Bulletin Nº. 249| 17th April 2024
The Renamo monitor in Chitalo village, in Lutuesse locality, Muembe district, in Niassa, Muemede Ali, yesterday (16 April) submitted a complaint to the District Elections Commission in which he accused the supervisor of the local brigade of using a list of “priority people” to be registered.
AMUSI sues the STAE director of operations in Nampula district
The party AMUSI (Action of the United Movement for All-round Salvation) announced today (17 April) that it has submitted a complaint to the Nampula City Law Court against the director of operations of the Nampula District branch of STAE for having installed a voter registration post in the yard of the Muaz bin Jabal islamic centre, a religious space located in the Marien Nguabi communal unit, in Namutequeliua, on the outskirts of Nampula city.
Voters impose condition for registering in Marrupa
There is nobody in the queues for registration at the voter registration post in the Palapato Primary School, in Marrupa district, Niassa province.
Nampula registers ghosts in cities while real people cannot vote in rural zones
Bulletin Nº. 248| 16th April 2024
Widespread fraud is shown by registration figures published in Nampula after the first 30 days. In the cities thousands of ghost voters are being registered. But in rural zones there are too few registration brigades so honest citizens cannot register.
STAE in Erati recognises difficulties, but is confident
The director of STAE in Eráti district, Ujaje Mutirua, recognises that Erati is still a long way from achieving its target, when compared with other districts in Nampula province.
Mágoè has registered 87% of its voters
Cristóvão Rufino Jeque, the director of STAE in Mágoè district, in Tete province, announced on 16 April that 87% of the potential voters have now been registered by the brigades working in the district.
Rain affects several posts in Zambézia
Bulletin Nº. 247| 15th April 2024
Our correspondents in Zambézia report that seven registration posts are operating with difficulties, and others have closed, due to problems with the electricity to supply the Mobile-IDs.
Crowds continue in the centre, and there is a risk that not all voters will be registered
Some districts in Sofala and Manica continue to record crowds of potential voters, two weeks from the end of the voter registration, which suggests that in some regions not all the potential voters can be registered.
Renamo denounces collection of cards in Buzi
On Monday (15 April), Renamo, in Búzi district, in Sofala, claimed that some political parties (without mentioning their names) are collecting voter cards in the district, for unknown purposes.
Punch-up between High Court and Constitutional Council over who is in charge
Bulletin Nº. 246| 14th April 2024
Both the High Court (TS) and Constitutional Council (CC) took their electoral battle to parliament last week. The district counts come under the High Court, which says the district court can annul elections. The CC says the constitution gives the CC the right to rule on elections, so district courts can only be post boxes.
Nampula has registered 1.4 million voters in 30 days
The Nampula provincial STAE announced on 13 April, that it has registered, in 30 days, about 1.4 million voters. This is 74.8% of the total of 1.8 million voters expected to register by 28 April.
Fake machine breakdown preventing opposition voters from registering in Alto Molócuè
Bulletin Nº. 245| 11th April 2024
Alleged breakdowns of the Mobile-ID computers in Alto Molócuè are deliberate. Our correspondents visited eight voter registration posts there and found "breakdowns" at all of them. We found that supervisors have received instructions not to register any citizen who does not belong to the ruling party.
Rains paralyse brigades in Zambézia and Tete
Several registration brigades were forced to interrupt their activities in various districts of Zambézia province because of the rain that fell on Thursday.
Registration stopped because of shipwreck
Bulletin Nº. 244| 10th April 2024
Since last Sunday (7 April) the registration post at the Quivulane EPC, in the Lunga administrative post, in Mossuril district, has been paralysed because of the tragedy of the shipwreck which killed 98 people. All the victims were from the same community.
In Maputo there are posts that register less than five voters a day
In the municipalities in Maputo province and city, there are voter registration posts that are registering fewer than five voters a day. Some have not managed to register 100 voters in 26 days.
4.3 million voters have been registered in 24 days
Bulletin Nº. 243| 09th April 2024
The National Elections Commission (CNE) announced on Tuesday (9 April) in Maputo, that more than half of the 8.7 million potential voters forecast were registered in the first 24 days of voter registration. In all, 4,379,750 voters were registered, which is 58.44% of the target for voters to be registered inside Mozambique.
19 brigades have still not entered Quissanga
The CNE also announced that in Cabo Delgado almost all the registration posts are fully operational, but the 19 brigades for Quissanga district have still not been placed at their posts.
Impact of the rains in the south, according to the CNE
The CNE recognizes that the torrential rains in the south of the country have had a negative impact on placing the brigades and on the normal course of voter registration.
Electoral law changes
Frelimo rejects Renamo proposals for more transparency and to block fraud
Bulletin Nº. 242| 09th April 2024
Frelimo in parliament has rejected most of the proposals tabled by Renamo for changing the electoral law to prevent the frauds that occurred last year, and to increase transparency. A partial list of rejected proposals is below.
Frelimo rejects increased transparency
But Frelimo has rejected most opposition suggestions, saying they need more thought or constitutional changes. Most importantly, Frelimo has rejected European Union and Renamo proposals for more detailed publication of results at district and provincial levels.
Many brigades reopened today in Maputo and Matola
Bulletin Nº. 241| 08th April 2024
After a Sunday when they were practically closed, many voter registration brigades reopened at posts in Maputo and Matola cities, and in the surrounding districts, namely Boane, Marracuene and Moamba.
29 registration posts did not operate on Sunday in Matola
29 voter registration posts were closed all day Sunday, 7 April, due to the rains that fell in the early morning in Matola city and Maputo province.
Frelimo, Renamo and MDM are amending the electoral law in secret
Bulletin Nº. 240| 08rd April 2024
A group of deputies from the three parliamentary groups (from Frelimo, Renamo and the MDM) have been revising in secret, for several weeks, the electoral legislation that governs the election of the President of the Republic and of the deputies of the Assembly of the Republic (Law no. 2/2019, of 31 May, which alters Law no. 8/2013 of 27 February).
Constitutional Council and Supreme Court called upon to give their opinions
Given the prevailing disagreement between the three parties, it was decided that the group revising the legislation should ask the Constitutional Council and the Supreme Court to give their opinions on the matter.
Findings of the 20 days of observation of voter registration 2024
Bulletin Nº. 239| 04rd April 2024
“CIP Eleições” presented today (4 April) in Maputo the main findings of the 20 days of voter registration held ahead of the general elections scheduled for 9 October 2024.
Massinga far from the target in 20 days
20 days after the start of the registration, the electoral bodies in Massinga district, in Inhambane province, say that, in those 20 days, they have only registered 6,335 voters of the 38,381 expected to register, which is 16% of the target.
STAE in Nampula has no money to pay allowances to brigade members
Bulletin Nº. 238| 03rd April 2024
The provincial director of STAE in Nampula, Luís Cavalo, has revealed that there are difficulties in paying half the agreed allowance to members of the voter registration brigades. As far as he was concerned, this is the only problem occurring in the current elections in Nampula.
After Mecufi, CIP observation blocked in Ancuabe
The electoral administration bodies and the police claim that the CIP correspondents do not possess credentials.
STAE Director in Larde also bans observers
It now seems that this is a concerted action. It is the second time in Nampula that a STAE district director has refused to recognise the badge issued by the provincial STAE as the document that identifies an election observer, and the fourth time in the entire country.
CIP correspondents hindered from observing registration and threatened with jail in Mecufi
Bulletin Nº. 237| 02nd April 2024
Some STAE district directors are not accepting the credentials issued by the provincial branches of STAE, on the grounds that they might be forged.
Our correspondents complain: “We feel threatened in Massingir“
In Massingir district, in Gaza province, the district STAE director photographed the faces of our correspondents, without their consent, during the meeting at which they were presented. Our correspondents feel that they are in “clear danger” in Massingir.
Number of malfunctions declines significantly in the third week
Bulletin Nº. 236| 01st April 2024
Data collected today (1 April) by our correspondents, in all the country’s districts, show a significant improvement in the performance of the machines.
Manica CDE draws up positive balance
The deputy chairperson of the Manica District Elections Commission, in the province of the same name, José Tefula, classified as positive the 15 days of the voter registration, which began across the country on 15 March.
Pressure and intimidation increase against CIP correspondents
Bulletin Nº. 235| 29th March 2024
In some Mozambican districts it is not enough to be accredited to observe the electoral process. From yesterday to today (28-29 March), three cases were reported of intimidation against CIP correspondents (two threats and one detention) in three districts in Gaza, Nampula and Cabo Delgado provinces.
13 adolescents accused of falsifying personal identity documents
Of the 13 accused of falsifying documents in Alto Molocue, in Zambezia province, so that they could register and hence vote in October, one has been released for lack of evidence.
Heavy rains make access difficult in Zambézia
Bulletin Nº. 234| 29th March 2024
Our correspondents are reporting situations of zones where they cannot observe the voter registration due to the heavy rains falling in many of the districts of Zambézia province. Namacurra, Ile, and Derre districts, and part of Mocuba, among others, are being battered by the rains.
Breakdowns of mobiles may compromise registration in Búzi
The brigade members say that every day about 300 voters appear to register, but the equipment cannot meet the demand due to frequent breakdowns.
Presidential candidates
Frelimo and Renamo divided and both delay choice til May
Bulletin Nº. 233| 27th March 2024
Frelimo has delayed until May its special Central Committee to choose its presidential candidate. There are major divisions within the party, no short list and no obvious front-runner.
Here we go again:
No press credentials and Frelimo priority
Electoral authorities are repeating the misconduct of last's year municipal elections, registering Frelimo voters first the then when they get to opposition voters waiting in the queue, the registration machine "breaks down".
CPE in Zambézia denies accreditation and returns request to CIP
Bulletin Nº. 232| 26th March 2024
The Zambézia Provincial Elections Commission (CPE) on Tuesday (26 March) returned to CIP all the paperwork concerning the accreditation of its correspondents, alleging that the request must specify the districts in which they will work.
Zambézia records greater voter turnout
Our correspondents, in several Zambézia districts, report lengthy queues of potential voters at the registration posts visited.
Typist stabbed to death in Gilé
The police on 26 March reported the fatal stabbing of a typist at voter registration post no. 259, located in the Napote EP1, in Muiane locality, in the Alto Ligonha administrative post, in Gilé district.
Registration may stop for several days in Maputo and Matola
Bulletin Nº. 231| 25th March 2024
Our correspondents in the cities of Maputo and Matola, and in the surrounding districts, report a sombre scenario in which the schools where voter registration brigades had been operating are now occupied by people driven from their homes by the floods caused by the torrential rains of the weekend.
26 registration sites unable to function in Marracuene district
The Marracuene district STAE announced on Sunday (24 March) that, of the 74 registration posts in the district, 26 do not have the minimum conditions for operating, after the rains that struck Maputo city and province, and some districts in Gaza and Inhambane provinces.
Rain forces interruption of voter registration in Maputo
Bulletin Nº. 230| 24th March 2024
Maputo city and province interrupted voter registration activities because of the torrential rain and flooding that occurred on Sunday (24 March).
Members of Frelimo collect information from the mobiles in Namacurra
At the registration post in the Namacurra Basic School, in Zambézia, members of the FRELIMO Party are collecting information from the Mobile-IDs, through flash drives and are taking it to their party offices.
Almost a million voters registered in the first week of voter registration
Bulletin Nº. 229| 22th March 2024
The data were announced on Friday (22 March) by the STAE spokesperson, Lucas José, and correspond to 12.59% of the number of voters expected to register by the close of registration on 28 April.
STAE confirms financial crisis
At the same press conference, STAE confirmed that the initial phase of voter registration was characterized by lack of funds, which affected the purchase of fuel and is reflected in delays in paying the expenses made during the 2023 elections, in all the provinces.
Nampula recorded more breakdowns and power cuts
Bulletin Nº. 228| 21th March 2024
On the seventh day of voter registraton, Nampula province faced problems of machine breakdowns, power cuts and rain.
Illicit charges denounced in Cabo Delgado and Nampula
After the denunciation made by our correspondents in Niassa, today there are reports of illicit charges at the voter registration post in the Nanhala EPC, in the Chapa administrative post, in Mueda district, Cabo Delgado.
Levels of machine breakdowns decline on sixth day
Bulletin Nº. 227| 20th March 2024
On the sixth day of voter registration, up to 14.00, our correspondents reported a decline in the levels of equipment breakdowns. Our statistics show that on Wednesday (20 March) slightly more than 20 cases of machine malfunctions, including printers, were reported.
Four provinces have still not accredited CIP correspondents
In Gaza, the credentials for CIP were finally delivered today (20 March) by the chairperson of the Provincial Elections Commission (CPE). Also today the credentials for Tete were delivered. In Maputo City, and in Maputo, Nampula and Zambézia provinces we still have no response.
Organisation of the 2024 elections: “The scenario is sombre”
The Deputy Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (CNE), appointed by Renamo, Fernando Mazanga, believes that the scenario for organising the general elections scheduled for 9 October is sombre.
Accreditation for CIP remains blocked
Bulletin Nº. 226| 19th March 2024
Observers from CIP have been accredited in Inhambane, Manica, Sofala, Cabo Delgado and Niassa provinces – which were the last provinces for which credentials were requested. Maputo City, Maputo Province and Gaza were the first. The requests were made in late February, but so far there has been no response.
There are parts of Zambézia where registration has not started
At the post of Moniua, about 20 km from the Ile district capital, voter registration only began today (19 March). According to the supervisor of the registration post, this was because the machines had broken down.
Registration may exclude voters in Tambara
In Tambara district, the voter registration may not cover a large number of residents due to interference by the Frelimo monitors. According to our correspondents, the Frelimo monitors argue that only those from a neighbourhood scheduled for that day should be registered.
Opposition CPE members denounce refusal to accredit CIP observers in Gaza
Bulletin Nº. 225| 18th March 2024
Mouzinho Gama, a member of the Provincial Elections Commission (CPE), in Gaza, on Monday (18 March) accused the head of the secretariat of that institution, Francisco Banze, of freezing the accreditation of CIP observers.
Cabo Delgado facing difficulties in undertaking registration
In Chiure district, for example, registration is only taking place within the perimeter of the municipality. No administrative post has an operational registration team.
Illicit charges in Ngaúma
Our correspondents in Ngaúma report a scheme to charge money for registering voters. This is happening at the Chamande registration post, in Ngaúma district, Niassa province.
MDM denounces priority given to Frelimo members and blocking of accreditation in Búzi
Bulletin Nº. 224| 17th March 2024
The MDM District Political Delegate in Búzi, Fernando Gaissa, has denounced that in the Inharongue and Danga EPCs, where two registration posts are operating, the brigade members have allegedly been instructed to attend in the first place to members of the Frelimo Party, who come with the saguta (village heads) and party branch secretaries.
ANABIL and SISE monitor CIP observers in Bilene
In Bilene district, there is an organisation called ANABIL (Friends and Natives of Bilene) which is formed by some teachers, mainly school directors and pedagogical directors, and agents infitrated from the State Intelligence and Security Service (SISE).
Crowds registering in rural areas, but as last year, many problems
Bulletin Nº. 223| 15th March 2024
Voter registration began Friday with crowds in some rural areas but few people in cities, our team of more than 400 correspondents reported yesterday.
2023 Municipal elections results
Did Renamo win 0, 4, or 7 municipalities?
Bulletin Nº. 222| 14th March 2024
It is impossible to know the true results of last year's municipal elections, because the National Elections Commission (CNE) and Constitutional Council (CC) can change results in secret and without explanation. In Mozambique's democracy, these two bodies, not the voters, decide who wins.
There were elections in 65 municipalities on 11 October 2023, but which results are to be believed? The CNE said Frelimo won 64, MDM won 1 (Beira) and Renamo won 0. The CC said Renamo won 4 (Vilankulo, Quelimane, Alto Molocue, and Chiure). Parallel counts showed Renamo won 7 including major cities (Nampula, Maputo, Matola, Quelimane, Vilankulo, Marromeu, and Chiure).
CIP has compiled all the final official results as announced by the CC, showing all the changes to the results we can find, and compare to parallel counts.
“Beira Supervisors” Case:
STAE cancels contract with Beira City district director
Bulletin Nº. 221| 06th March 2024
The Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE) announced on Wednesday that it has cancelled its contract with the Beira City STAE District Director, Carlos do Rosario, for his involvement in the creation of an illicit WhatsApp group, named “Beira Supervisors”.
STAE Marromeu District Director promoted to director of Ponta-Gea Secondary School in Beira
The STAE central office also cancelled the contract of Daniel Cuzaminho as the STAE district director in Marromeu after his involvement in the electoral crimes which gave victory to Frelimo in the 11 October municipal elections, and in the repeat election in that municipality held on 10 December.
Again, CNE has more registration brigades in Frelimo zones
Bulletin Nº. 220| 06th March 2024
Placement of registration brigades has been published, and again there will be more teams in Frelimo areas than in Renamo ones, making it harder for Renamo voters to register. We look at provinces with a similar population density.
CNE expects 16.4 million voters for next October’s elections
Bulletin Nº. 219| 22th February 2024
The National Elections Commission (CNE) announced this Thursday that 16.4 million voters are expected to participate in the general elections scheduled for 9 October this year. Of these, 279,600 are in the disapora.
More than 6,000 brigades and 9,000 registration posts will be set up
At the same press conference, the CNE also announced that to carry out the voter registration, 6,330 registration brigades will be set up, 6,033 within Mozambique and 297 in the diaspora.
Opposition proposes prison terms of up to 12 years for those who commit electoral crimes
Bulletin Nº. 218| 14th February 2024
The proposal to amend the electoral legislation, submitted to parliament by Renamo, favours tougher penalties for those who adulterate the election results. The penalties would vary between 8 and 12 years imprisonment, fines of up to 48 times the minimum wage, and expulsion from the state apparatus, if the offender works in the public administration.
Invalidating votes could lead to an 8 year prison term for MMVs
In the same proposal, Renamo argues that any polling station staff member (MMV) who “deliberately blots” or allows anyone to “blot, stain or dampen the ballot paper or other documents with indelible ink or any other liquid shall be punished with an effective penalty of two to eight years imprisonment and fines of between 12 and 18 times the minimum wage”.
Voter registration in Cabo Delgado may take place only in the district capitals and locality headquarters
The National Elections Commission has not yet decided on the mechanisms for holding voter registration in Cabo Delgado province, but, according to sources in the election management bodies, it is most likely that the registration will be held in district capitals and locality headquarters, where there is greater security.
Renamo proposes law changes to prevent recurrence of last year's frauds
Bulletin Nº. 217| 13th February 2024
For the parliament session starting 22 February, Renamo has proposed major changes to the electoral law, to try to prevent a repeat of the frauds and misconduct in the 2023 municipal elections. Renamo calls for increased transparency and a ban on secret changes of results. There would be recounts or new elections instead of secret changes. MDM has tabled a shorter list of proposals.
New transparency would include live reporting of counting
Renamo's proposals call for a major increase in transparency. Renamo proposes that during the initial count in the polling station, "In the interests of electoral transparency, the counting of votes may be accompanied by immediate publicity of the proceedings, and party delegates may capture images, sound, film or live for public consumption."
CNE must announce number of candidates before end of registration
Bulletin Nº. 216| 07th February 2024
The ongoing election law is forcing the CNE to announce the number of candidates that parties must submit before it knows how many people have been registered, according to the calendar it released today.
Observers can register now
The CNE calendar stresses that observer and press credentials are already being issued, and these are valid until final results are announced by the constitutional council.
Parties have 6 weeks to submit candidates
Parties and provincial citizens lists must submit five documents for each candidate, including a no- criminal record certificate that often takes a month to obtain, and certified photocopies of their identity and voters registration cards, which are harder to obtain in rural towns.
The Vahanle case: the contradictions of the Nampula law court
Bulletin Nº. 215| 25th January 2024
The Nampula Provincial Law Court, through a dispatch signed by judge Esmeralda Baulene, suspended the Mayor of Nampula, Paulo Vahanle, from the exercise of his duties for four months. Two months later, the same court issued another dispatch, without the signature of a judge, but with an official stamp, in which it denied that it had suspended Vahanle from his duties.
In parliament tomorrow
Renamo will agree impossible time limit for submitting candidates
Bulletin Nº. 214| 23th January 2024
Renamo yesterday accepted Frelimo's proposals for changed registration dates, including cutting the period to submit candidates to just 20 days, and will vote in favour at the special AR session tomorrow. This works against Renamo as well as small parties.
Major revision of electoral package won't take place until February
Only the proposal to amend the laws to allow the National Electoral Commission to propose another date for the start of voter registration to the Council of Ministers will be approved tomorrow.
Frelimo asks special parliament session to clean up election laws - and squeeze the opposition
Bulletin Nº. 213| 14th January 2024
To avoid registration in the rain, Frelimo on Thursday (11 January) asked for a special session of parliament to change dates of registration, publication of numbers, and candidate submission in four laws. Avoiding the rain means taking three months out of the calendar, and Frelimo proposes the biggest cut in a way that will hit opposition parties hardest.
The proposed changed dates are:
Registration must finish by 7 May instead of 7 February as set by present law (or 16 March as set by the CNE in its calendar)
Lists of the numbers of candidates in each constituency must be announced by the CNE by 5 June instead of 12 April.
Political tricks included
Frelimo proposes two changes that would increase its political power. The law allows certain people registered elsewhere to vote at any polling station - there are staff, journalists, observers, police, etc.
10 electoral laws together force rainy season registration
Bulletin Nº. 212| 11th January 2024
An election calendar issued last week (4 January) by the National Elections Commission (CNE) cites 10 different national and provincial elections laws.
Recruitment of provincial trainers only ends on 15 January
As we wrote in the previous bulletin, by 1 February CNE/STAE will be in no condition to start voter registration in the non-municipal districts. By way of example, STAE has not yet completed the recruitment of the provincial trainers who will train the members of the voter registration brigades in the districts.
Election dilemma:
CNE will have to request amendment of the law to delay the start of voter registration or reduce the length of registration
Bulletin Nº. 211| 10th January 2024
The CNE/STAE and the Lexton/Artes Gráfica consortium are still in no condition to begin voter registration 20 days from now – which means they will propose a postponement to the Council of Ministers.
A further problem: district election bodies have not yet been formed
Voter registration cannot begin without forming the district elections commissions and their respective branches of STAE (Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat) in the non-municipal districts. So far the members of these bodies appointed by the political parties have not yet taken office. Swearing them into office depends on a decision by STAE-Central on fixing a date for this purpose.
The reason why Ossufo Momade wants to remain President of his Party is millions of meticais from the State Budget
Bulletin Nº. 210| 07th January 2024
The struggle to be President of Renamo is essentially because hundreds of millions of meticais are associated with the post of leader of the second most voted party. Between 2021 and 2022, Ossufo Momade and his office received more than 100 million meticais (about 1.8 million US dollars), transferred from State funds.
Earning 200,000 meticais a month, Ossufo Momade is in the third highest salary category in the State
The President of Renamo is in the third highest salary category in the State structure on a par with the functions of the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic, the Deputy Attorney-General of the Republic, and the Deputy President of the Supreme Court.
Special report
Marromeu shows electoral law cannot deal with serious fraud and political bias
Bulletin Nº. 209| 02nd January 2024
Observers said "no institution can declare with any credibility or certainty which list won in Marromeu" yet the district court and Constitutional Council (CC) rubber-stamped a Frelimo victory. Marromeu shows that electoral court system does not work.
Electoral courts are not a check on a biased system
By agreement of Frelimo and Renamo, the electoral system is not neutral or independent, and instead is dominated by the party with a majority in parliament.
Constitutional Council gives 4 remaining municipalities to Frelimo
Bulletin Nº. 208| 31th December 2023
All four municipalities which had repeat elections on 10 December were won by Frelimo with large margins, the Constitutional Council (CC) announced on Saturday morning (30 December). All objections were ignored. The CC confirmed that the CNE is nothing more than a post box, and continued its fight with the Supreme Court and the bar association (Ordem dos Advogados).
CC calls for unified electoral code
"We must reiterate our position on the lack of systematisation and harmonisation of electoral legislation," the CC said in its decision.
Questions over role of district courts, CNE and CC
One area of confusion is that the district tribunals are courts under the Supreme Court (TS) and electoral courts under the CC, and it is not clear which rules apply.
Electronic evidence not accepted
Two protests were rejected by the CNE on Thursday (28 December). The party Nova Democracia appealed against the decision of the CC to hold new votes in only some polling stations in Gurué.
Finally police confirm it killed people during election demonstrations
Bulletin Nº. 207| 29th December 2023
The General Commander of the Mozambique Republic Police (PRM), Bernardino Rafael, publicly confessed yesterday (Thursday 28 December) that, during the demonstrations protesting at the election results, the police killed citizens accidentally. First, he pointed to one death by police bullets, but later recognized “various incidents”.
After the confession, will the Public Prosecutor remain silent?
With the exception of the case of Marromeu, there is no information publicly available that the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PRG) has opened criminal proceedings against the police agents responsible for the killings.
Renamo appeal delays results of repeat elections
It is likely that the winners of the repeat elections in the municipalities of Marromeu, Guruè, Milange and Nacala Porto will not be known this year, because of Renamo’s appeal against the CNE’s decision to approve the results from the four municipalities.
Constitutional Council rejects Marromeu appeal, but two judges say electoral fraud is allowed and blame STAE
Bulletin Nº. 205 - 206| 27th December 2023
An appeal against the district court ruling in Marromeu was rejected by the Constitutional Council (CC) on Friday 22 December. The first 11 October round had been so corrupted that the CC ordered a new election in Marromeu on 10 December. The rerun was even worse and the Mais Integridade civil society observation Consortium "concluded that no institution can declare with any credibility or certainty which list won in Marromeu."
Voter registration will be delayed until March 2024
Bulletin Nº. 204| 21th December 2023
Technically, it is impossible to hold voter registration as from 1 February 2024, as the Council of Ministers decided this week. Two reasons make the decision impractical: first, it coincides with the rainy season; and second the consortium will not be able to produce the registration material and place it all the provinces in less than 40 days.
This time Bishop Carlos Matsinhe did not abstain:
Frelimo on the CNE approved the results from the four municipalities
The CNE approved, in the early morning of Thursday (21 December) the results in the four municipalities where the elections were repeated, namely Marromeu, Milange, Guruè and Nacala-Port. Renamo again voted against, arguing that the elections were marred by irregularities.
Opposition says “CNE’s inertia reduced the transparency of the elections”
In the same dissenting opinion, the opposition representatives on the CNE accused the body of which they are part of being mainly responsible for the irregularities and crimes that occurred during the repeat elections.
Court seizes cell phone and suspends Vahanle, but Renamo will submit appeal today
Bulletin Nº. 203| 20th December 2023
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has accused the current Mayor of Nampula City, and the head of the Renamo list of candidates in the municipal elections, Paulo Vahanle, of the crimes of incitement to collective disobedience and the possession of prohibited weapons.
Court finally recognises that there were deaths in Nampula but claims they were caused by physical assaults
For the first time, the bodies of the administration of justice have recognised that the demonstrations opposing the election results, on 27 October, in Nampula City resulted in deaths, but did not specify how many.
Government schedules voter registration for rainy season
The Council of Ministers announced on Tuesday (19 December) that the voter registration ahead of the 2024 general elections will take place throughout the country between 1 February and 16 March next year. This is at the height of the rainy season.
The current mayor of Nacala and head of the Renamo list is being sued by five citizens and by the PGR
Bulletin Nº. 202| 19th December 2023
Raul Novinte, the current mayor of the Nacala municipality, and the head of his office, Arlindo Chissale, have been under 30 day house arrest since 9 December. The period of house arrest expires on 9 January, but there are strong possibilities that it will be extended until the mayor elected on the Frelimo ticket, Faruk Nuro, takes office.
Unknown assailants set fire to the vehicle of the STAE head of operations in Marromeu
Individuals, who are so far unidentified, early on Tuesday morning (19 December) set fire to the vehicle of the Head of Organisation and Operations of the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE) of Marromeu. It was a grey Toyota VITZ car.
The story of a crime that did not pay:
Juidinaldo da Costa went to chair a polling station at Coalane when he was already applying for a post as STAE district director
Bulletin Nº. 201| 18th December 2023
On the instructions of the Frelimo Party in Zambézia, the Quelimane district STAE (Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat) recruited Juidinaldo da Costa Reffel in Namarrói to work as the chairperson of a polling station at the Coalane EPC, in the city of Quelimane.
Namarrói is 345 km from Quelimane. Juidinaldo da Costa Reffel was director of the Namarrói Secondary School. He abandoned the school in order to carry out a political party mission of chairing a polling station with a clear purpose: to manipulate the electon results in favour of the Frelimo Party.
The Guruè and Marromeu courts reject the ND and Renamo appeals, but recognise there are signs of crimes
Bulletin Nº. 200| 17th December 2023
In the two appeals, the two courts recognise the existence of signs of electoral crimes, but they rejected the opposition appeals on the grounds of alleged “lack of proof” and of “justification of the appeal”.
In the case of Guruè, the District Law Court states that there is no proof needed to accept the Renamo appeal in the matter of the voter rolls, and there is no object for appeal in the case of the intermediate count. However, the Court says it is necessary to extract copies of the appeal under analysis, including the constituent documents and copies of the minutes of the judgment, since there are signs of the existence of an electoral crime.
Pre-dawn count in Gurué was illegal
The count of votes undertaken by the Gurue District Elections Commission was clearly illegal, whatever the decision of the District Court. The minutes of the district count say it took place between 05.00 and 05.20 on Monday, 11 December.
District Commander sued for detainng a STAE official during the vote count in Guruè
Agostinho Morgado accuses the district police commander of ordering “a heavily armed military and police contingent” to detain him illegally, that is, without an arrest warrant and without any explanation.
Court orders house arrest and suspension from office of mayor of Nacala and his communications advisor
Bulletin Nº. 199| 13th December 2023
The decision of the Nacala Law Court comes in response to a request from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, in the context of a criminal case in which the mayor, Raul Novinte, and his advisor, Arlindo Chissale, are charged with “incitement to collective disobedience and public instigation to commit a crime”.
Policeman who murdered trader in Marromeu has been arrested and will be transferred to top security prison
His name is Silva José Manhusse, and he is from Beira. He is the police agent who, on Tuesday (12 December). shot dead the young trader Tito Joao, at the Marromeu Fish Market.
“Mais Integridade says it is impossible to declare a winner in Marromeu
Bulletin Nº. 198| 13th December 2023
The election observation consortium “Mais Integridade” (“More Integrity”) issued a statement on Wednesday that the gross irregularities that occurred during the repeat municipal elections in the town of Marromeu “do not allow any institution to declare, with any credibility and certainty, who won”.
Obvious fraud in Guruè
More than half of the 13 polling stations in Guruè seem to have been fraudulent. The “Mais Integridade” consortium reports: "During the count, it was noted that in three polling stations located in the Nacuecuè EPC, namely 080938-01, 080938-02 and 080938-03, Frelimo obtained between 74% and 78,5%, much higher than its average.
Police shoot dead a citizen in Marromeu
Bulletin Nº. 197| 12th December 2023
The Mozambican police have shot dead a citizen named Tito Joao, who was a seller in the fish market in the municipality of Marromeu, in Sofala province.
SERNIC hides the police crime
In its notice to remove the body, with the number 009/MINT/SERNIC-SFL/2023, the National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) did not reveal that the trader from the Fish Market, Tito João, was murdered by a police bullet. The document simply notes “A male human body was found without signs of life”.
New Democracy on the march in Gurué
While Frelimo paraded to celebrate its victory, the New Democracy (ND) party marched through the streets of Guruè to oppose the result of the repeat municipal election held on Sunday. Both events took place on Monday afternoons (11 December).
66% of voters did not go to the polls in Guruè
A statement from the election observation consortium “Mais Integridade” (“More Integrity”) shows that voter turnout in the repeat election in Guruè was 33.6%, which means that two thirds of the electorate (66.4%) decided not to vote.
Eight thieves who were chosen again for the repeat election in Guruè
Bulletin Nº. 196| 11th December 2023
Alternor Anselmo Zanho, yesterday the secretary of polling station number 80934-03 at the Chá Moçambique EPC in Gurué, was chair of polling station 080938-02 at the Nacuacué EPC, during the election of 11 October - one of the stations where the Constitutional Council annulled the results.
Shootings and assaults: night of extreme violence in Guruè and Marromeu
A person shot by the UIR in both legs remains unconscious and fighting for his life in the Intensive Care Unit in the Gurué Rural Hospital. Five people have been confirmed as victims of police bullets.
Abstention above 70% in Milange and Nacala-Porto
Voter abstention in Milange, Zambézia, and Nacala-Porto, Nampula province, was 73.3% and 71.3%, respectively. Fewer than 30% of the electorate cast their votes in the two municipalities.
Police cause abstention
Voters did not go to the polls in Nacala and Milange
Bulletin Nº. 195| 10th December 2023
In Milange, in Zambézia, turnout will be less than 20% with two polling stations where nobody went to vote.
More disturbances in Guruè and Marromeu
The repetition of the elections in Guruè is being marked by many irregularities and disturbances, more so than in Marromeu, where there were few incidents.
Mais Integridade denounces more irregularities
In a statement issued at the end of today (Sunday) the Mais Integridade (“More Integrity”) consortium stated that the voting in the four municipalities was marked by various irregularities, ranging from the attempts to introduce extra ballot papers, filled out in advance, to disparities between the copies of the voter rolls in the possession of the MMVs, and those in the possession of the opposition monitors.
Detantions, assaults and attempted ballot box stuffing mark initial hours.
Bulletin Nº. 194| 10th December 2023
The early hours of the repeat elections are being marked by a massive police presence, by some detentions and assaults, and by attempts to slip into the ballot boxes ballot papers which were marked in advance The violence began on Saturday night (9 December), when a supposed member of the New Democracy (ND) party was beaten by members of the police Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR) in Gurue, allegedly because he did not show a voter card.
“Mais Integridade” consortium denounces hindrance to election observation in Marromeu
According to the consortium, blocking the election observers of the “Mais Integridade” (“More Integrity”) consortium is affecting at least 15% of the polling stations in the Marromeu municipality, in Sofala.
ND denounces recruitment of MMVs involved in fraud in Guruè
Bulletin Nº. 193| 08th December 2023
The New Democracy (ND) party yesterday (7 December) issued a statement denouncing the recruitment by the Gurue district STAE, of some members of polling station staff (MMVs) who were organisers of the electoral fraud leading to the repetition of the municipal elections in 13 polling stations in Gurue, in Zambézia province. They are all members of the OJM, the youth wing of the Frelimo Party, and heads of localities.
He was only Namarrói district director for 48 hours: the protagonist of electoral fraud in Quelimane has been dismissed
He took part in the 11 October electoral fraud when he refused to sign the polling station minutes and results sheet (“edital”) in the Coalane EPC in Quelimane. This led to members of the opposition grabbing and assaulting him.
Novinte accuses the PGR of intimidating him so that he does not protest against electoral fraud
After he left his interrogation, the head of the Renamo list of candidates and the current mayor of Nacala-Port, Raul Novinte, said that he is the target of intimidation by the Attorney-General’s Office (PGR) so that he does not speak about electoral fraud.
Mayor and his advisor summoned to be questioned today by the PGR of Nacala
Bulletin Nº. 192| 08th December 2023
The Nacala-Port District Attorney’s Office has notified the head of the Renamo list of candidates and current mayor of the Nacala-Port municipality, Raul Novinte, and his communications advisor, Arlindo Chissale, to be submitted “to interrogations as accused persons who are not under arrest”. The first interrogation was scheduled for yesterday (7 December), but was postponed to this morning, 8 December, because neither of the accused was in Nacala.
Crisis in Renamo in Nacala: national leadership and the grass roots are at daggers drawn, and the party office was closed
Two days before the repeat election, Renamo has still not reached an understanding about re-running the election in Nacala-Port. The head of the Renamo list and the district delegate were in Maputo to negotiate with the party leadership.
Tense afternoon in Nampula: UIR and GOE assault Renamo office and detain several Renamo members
Bulletin Nº. 190 - 191| 07th December 2023
Renamo, in the northern city of Nampula, has denounced the detention of dozens of its members after Tuesday’s demonstration.
Renamo in Nacala opposes Sunday rerun in only a handful of polling stations and warns of serious violence
There is a clear rupture between the Renamo leadership in Maputo and its activists in Nacala-Porto. Renamo in Nacala-Porto has already decided that there will be no elections on 10 December and is suggesting neighbours of the two schools where there will be a repeat vote to leave on Sunday to avoid expected violence.
Renamo militants claim police ready for violence in Nacala Porto
In a demonstration yesterday, Tuesday, outside the Murrupelane EPC (primary school), where voting will take place, Renamo activists asked those living near the school to leave their homes because there will be a lot of violence.
Why did the CC take Alto Molocue from Frelimo?
Bulletin Nº. 189| 04th November 2023
The Constitutional Council took Alto Molocue away from Frelimo and gave it to Renamo, in secret, and not on the basis of publicly available documents. All publicly available information suggests Frelimo won by a large margin. This is precisely the opposite of Maputo and Matola, where the editais are public and show Renamo won, but the CC gave the victory to Frelimo. The CC has given no reasons or explanations for these anomalous decisions.
Elections will be repeated by the same people who organised the fraud in the four municipalities
Bulletin Nº. 188| 30th November 2023
The National Elections Commission (CNE) and the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE) have decided to keep in place the same organisation that was responsible for the electoral crimes which led the Constitutional Council to annul the results of the elections in Marromeu and parts of Milange, Nacala-Port and Guruè. None of the leading figures in the electoral bodies has been suspended. The only changes will be at the level of polling station staff (MMVs).
Given a post as a STAE head - as a reward for electoral misconduct
The director of the Namarrói Secondary School, which is 345 km from Quelimane, was one of several prominent Frelimo people recruited to occupy a post of polling station chair in Quelimane, in his case at Coalane school. Knowing Renamo would win, Frelimo instructed them not to sign the polling station results sheets (editais), which would mean the parties did not have official copies and it would be easier to create fake editais.
Académica to charge $390,000 for election materials, bringing total bill for rerun to $734,000
The State will have to spend 47 million meticais ($734,000) to organise new elections in the four municipalities where the Constitutional Council annulled the first vote because of the electoral crimes committed by the leaders of the electoral bodies.
CNE proposes repeat elections on 10 December
Bulletin Nº. 187| 27th November 2023
The Council of Ministers is expected to announce, by tomorrow, the date for the repeat of the local elections in Marromeu and parts of Guruè, Milange and Nacala-Porto. The National Electoral Commission (CNE) proposal is for the rerun to take place on Sunday 10 December.
Rerun to cost $336,000.
Will the same fraudsters run the new election?
The electoral fraud carried out by the managers of the electoral administration in the four municipalities is having a heavy cost for the state budget. CIP Eleições had access to the budget and reveals that the state will have to spend 21.5 million meticais ($336,000).
Marromeu has been a battle ground and site of fraud in all municipal 5 elections
Marromeu in Sofala is the only municipality with a complete new vote, after a massive fraud. This was a municipality which the Mais Integridade civil society observation made a double parallel count. Of 28 polling stations that were observed, 11 were clearly inflated, with 2944 ghost voters.
CC wants major changes to vote tabulation & courts, but not to its own secret procedures which mean crime pays
Bulletin Nº. 186| 27th November 2023
The confusing vote tabulation pyramid must be changed, says the Constitutional Council (CC) in its ruling Friday (24 Nov) on the municipal elections. It also calls for a change to the role of the technical secretariat STAE (Secretariado Técnico de Administração Eleitoral).
CC says unnecessary three level vote tabulation and confused STAE role must change
The confusing vote tabulation pyramid must be changed, says the Constitutional Council (CC) in its ruling Friday (24 Nov) on the municipal elections. At present, votes are counted in the polling stations, those results are added together by the District Elections Commission (CDE), which passes the results to the Provincial Elections Commission (CPE) which passes the results to the National Elections Commission (CNE).
The whole process is secret
The CC says that its role is "guaranteeing the transparency and fairness of the election", in its 24 November announcement of results. Yet the CC's own role is not transparent; it says in nine municipalities it changed the results and it gives the new and old numbers, but does not say what evidence it used.
CC confirms that results aproved by CNE are false, but validates election results
Bulletin Nº. 185| 24th November 2023
The Constitutional Council has confirmed all the evidence of generalised fraud in the municipal elections of 11 October, and declared Renamo the winner in Chiure, Quelimane, Alto Molocuè and Vilankulo. In what seems to be a clear political compromise, the CC declared Frelimo the winner in Maputo and Matola, but gave the opposition a further 22 seats in the municipal assemblies, resulting from the recovery of more than 70,000 votes which the National Elections Commission (CNE) had fraudulently attributed to Frelimo.
For two weeks:
Frelimo in CNE hid from opposition members CC demands for results sheets
Bulletin Nº. 184| 21th November 2023
Renamo members discovered two weeks late that the Constitutional Council (CC) had been asking the National Elections Commission (CNE) for original results sheets (editais) from polling stations. All the CC requests were grabbed by Frelimo CNE members, and by the time opposition members discovered, all the editais from the municipalities had already been sent to the CC.
Conflict of interest:
Minister who is also Frelimo election agent calls diplomatic corps for clarification about the elections
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Veronica Macamo, has called the diplomatic missions accredited in Mozambique to a meeting tomorrow (Wednesday 22 Nov) seeking “to share information about the sixth municipal elections”.
Constitutional Council requests more results sheets from the Maputo City municipality
Bulletin Nº. 183| 20th November 2023
The Constitutional Council last Friday (17 November) issued a further dispatch addressed to the National Elections Commission (CNE), in the person of its chairperson. Bishop Carlos Matsinhe, requesting results sheets (“editais”) from the KaMaxaquene Municipal District, in Maputo city.
CNE confirms it did not check polling station editais. But it did in 2018, when it secretly changed results
Bulletin Nº. 182| 19th November 2023
The CNE Friday said it is not required to check polling station results sheets (editias) and effectively confirmed that it did not do so this year. The National Elections Commission (CNE) simply rubber-stamped results from the district elections commissions (CDEs). But in the previous 2018 municipal elections, in secret it made major changes to CDE results.
Vote tabulation and changes remain secret
Bulletin Nº. 181| 17th November 2023
A central problem is that the entire CNE tabulation process is secret, and if any records are kept of changes, they are not public. So there is no way of know anything about the tabulation processes for CNE or its technical secretariat (STAE). This level of secrecy must be unique in an electoral democracy.
District elections commissions in Maputo city "lost" most original editais
The District Elections Commissions (CDE) from the Kampfumo, KaMavota and Nhlamankulu Municipal Districts of Maputo Friday (17 November) delivered 449 results sheets (editais) and minutes (actas) demanded by the Constitutional Council (CC) in a dispatch sent to the National Elections Commission (CNE). But according to the consignment note (see photo below), 328 of the editais are copies and only 121 are originals, while 339 minutes are copies and only 110 original minutes. Three quarters of the originals documents appear to have been "lost".
From the Kampfumo, KaMavota and Nhlamankulu municipal districts:
CDEs have delivered more copies than original results sheets to the National Elections Commission
Bulletin Nº. 180| 17th November 2023
The District Elections Commissions (CDE) from the Kampfumo, KaMavota and Nhlamankulu Municipal Districts today (17 November) delivered a total of 449 results sheets (”editais”) requested by the Constitutional Council, through a dispatch sent to the National Elections Commission (CNE). Of these, 328 editais are copies and only 121 are originals.
Police shoot 8 Renamo demonstrators in Angoche
Bulletin Nº. 179| 17th November 2023
Police shot eight Renamo demonstrators in Angoche, Nampula, on Thursday. Five were hospitalised. Two were discharged but Manquinho Mastado is in a serious condition and has been transferred to Nampula Central Hospital (shocking images for the most sensitive).
CC demands editais from 11 more municipalites
The Constitutions Council today gave the National Elections Commission 72 hours extra time to produce polling station results sheets, but demanded editais from 11 more municipalities. They are Katembe, Kambukwana, and Nhaca in Maputo city; Namaacha (Maputo province), Chokwe (Gaza), Homoine (Inhambane), Morrumbala and Milange (Zambézia), Mandimba and Insaca (Niassa), and Moatize (Tete).
Two CNE violations of the electoral law
In national elections, official copies of the polling station editais have always been sent to the CNE. Indeed, in national elections provincial counts are ignored and the results announced by the CNE are the results compiled by STAE directly for the editais.
CC demands editais from 11 more municipalities, while Bishop Matsinhe admits CNE does not have the editais - so results were OKed without checking
Bulletin Nº. 178| 16th November 2023
The Constitutions Council (CC) today gave the CNE 72 hours extra time to produce editais, but demanded editais from 11 more districts. They are Katembe, Kambukwana, and Nhaca in Maputo city; Namaacha (Maputo province), Chokwe (Gaza), Homoine (Inhambane), Morrumbala and Milange (Zambézia), Mandimba and Insaca (Niassa), and Moatize (Tete).
Ibramogy apologises to CNE and Mazanga drops his lawsuit
The CNE vice-president appointed by Renamo, Fernando Mazanga, is no longer going ahead with criminal proceedings against member Daud Ibramogy for the death threats made during the 31st session of the body, held on 11 November.
Bishop Carlos Matsinhe notified to deliver editais from 10 municipalities in 24 hours
Bulletin Nº. 177| 15th November 2023
The Constitutional Council has just notified the National Elections Commission (CNE), in the person of its chairperson, Bishop Carlos Matsinhe, to deliver, within 24 hours (that is, by Thursday 16 October) the results sheets (”editais”) from10 of the municipalities where the results have been contested by Renamo.
Extremely tense atmosphere in CNE:
Mazanga denounces death threats and sues Daud Ibramogy
Bulletin Nº. 176| 15th November 2023
The political atmosphere in the National Elections Commission is tense. The Deputy Chairperson of the CNE, Fernando Mazanga, appointed by Renamo, is suing CNE member Daud Ibramogy, whom he accuses of threatening him with death during the 31st extraordinary plenary session of the CNE, which was held on 9 November.
Meeting to remove Bishop Matsinhe delayed?
The Standing Commission of the Anglican Church seems to have postponed to a date yet to be announced the extraordinary meeting of the Standing Commission of the bishops, called to discuss the demand from the bishops of Mozambique and Angola that Carlos Matsinhe should resign from his post as bishop of the Libombos Diocese.
Conflict between politics and religion:
Bishop Matsinhe may fall today in the Anglican Church, and his mosque has already sacked Daud Ibramogy
Bulletin Nº. 175| 14th November 2023
The Standing Commission of the Anglican Church of Mozambique is meeting in extraordinary session,
this Tuesday, 14 November, in Maputo city, to decide the future of the Bishop of the Libombos
Diocese and current chairperson of the National Elections Commission (CNE), Carlos
Matsinhe. Matsinhe could follow in the footsteps of Daud Dauto Ussene Ibramogy, who was recently
dismissed from his post as leader of the mosque in the Maputo city neighbourhod of Aeroporto.
CC confirms gross fraud can now be ignored, reversing earlier policy
Bulletin Nº. 174| 03rd November 2023
If only part of a gross fraud is appealed to the Constitutional Council (CC), then the fraud can be ignored, the CC ruled yesterday. This reverses a policy set in 2014 when the CC forced a re-run of the elections in Gurué because of "flagrant violations of the law on the part of polling station staff and the Zambezia Provincial Electoral Commission."
CC ruling means Renamo should win Quelimane
Bulletin Nº. 173| 02nd November 2023
Renamo has proven ballot box stuffing in Quelimane, the Constitutional Council (CC) ruled on Tuesday (31 October). This means the CC will accept this evidence when it considers the final results of the 11 October election which have been submitted by the National Elections Commission (CNE). The CNE said Frelimo won, but replacing the results of just 12 polling stations (mesas) would turn a Frelimo win by 3509 votes into a Renamo victory by 1675.
CNE pushed out Renamo in 5 cities by stealing 180,000 votes and adding ghost voters
Bulletin Nº. 172| 02nd November 2023
In five cites Renamo's victory was openly stolen. In the third part of our investigation of the numbers of the National Elections Commission's (CNE) official results published on 27 October we compare the CNE numbers to the parallel counts done by civil society and political parties, to see where the trickery lies.
CNE data shows 1/4 of municipalities had ballot box stuffing or stealing Renamo votes
Bulletin Nº. 171| 01st November 2023
Fraud is shown in the results announced Thursday (26 October) by the National Elections Commission. In the second part of this investigation, we look at significant ballot box stuffing and stealing votes from Renamo, which we find in 18 municipalities - on quarter of all municipalities.
CNE changed Vilankulo, Quelimane and Matola Rio results in secret
Bulletin Nº. 170| 31th October 2023
In the election results announced Thursday (26 October), the National Elections Commission (CNE) simply copied the district election commissions' results for 62 municipalities. But in secret the CNE changed three - Vilankulo, Quelimane, and Matola Rio.
Bar Association says CNE/STAE “sent message that crime pays”
Bulletin Nº. 169| 28th October 2023
"Mozambicans completely distrust the electoral administration [and] this lack of confidence is borne out by the excessively large number of irregularities during the election, which were pointed out by the District Courts. This sends a message that crime and manipulation pay in Moçambique”, states the Mozambican Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados, OAM), in a statement published Friday (27 October).
Anglican Bis
Riots and 2 deaths in Nampula and Nacala
Bulletin Nº. 168| 27th October 2023
Nampula and Nacala-Porto are experiencing riots and the police are responding with rubber bullets and gunfire with real bullets. There are arrests, injuries and deaths in both cities. The demonstrators, including Renamo supporters, are putting up barricades and destroying private property in both towns.
Bar Association says CNE/STAE “gave the message that crime pays”
Bulletin Nº. 167| 26th October 2023
“The discredit (of the electoral bodies) is borne out by the excessively large number of irregularities during the election, indicated by the District Courts, which sent a message that crime and manipulation pay in Moçambique”, states the Mozambican Bar Association (OAM), in a statement published this Friday (27 October).
CNE approves all district election results unchanged with Frelimo in favour, but CNE head Bishop Matsinhe abstains
Bulletin Nº. 166| 26th October 2023
Bishop Carlos Matsinhe, chairperson of the National Elections Commission (CNE), abstained on Wednesday night (25 October) from voting for or against the resolution approving all the results of the local elections on 11 October, as announced by the district electoral commissions of the 65 municipalities, which have been marred by serious irregularities.
Anglican Bishops break their silence and ask Bishop Matsinhe “to observe the law and practice the truth”
Bulletin Nº. 165| 25th October 2023
In a pastoral letter, written on 22 October, the Anglican Council of Mozambique (CAM) made a rare, but vigorous appeal to the electoral bodies and “especially to (its) Bishop Carlos Matsinhe”, who chairs the National Elections Commission (CNE), on the need “to observe the Electoral Law and practice the truth”.
Donors concerned with irregularities
Also this week, the Canadian High Commission, and the Embassies of Norway and of Switzerland, some of Mozambique’s main donors, went public to express their concern at the irregularities reported in these elections.
Parallel count shows Renamo victory in Nampula
Bulletin Nº. 164| 25th October 2023
In a close race, Renamo has won in Nampula by more than 4000 votes, according to a parallel count of 433 of 441 polling stations. Renamo has 74,132 votes at these polling stations (49%), Frelimo 69,830 (46%), and MDM 7,418 (5%).
CNE OKs all district election results unchanged with Frelimo in favour, but CNE head Bishop Matsinhe abstains
Bulletin Nº. 163| 25th October 2023
Bishop Carlos Matsinhe, president of the National Electoral Commission, abstained on Wednesday night from voting for or against the resolution approving all the results of the local elections on 11 October, as announced by the district electoral commissions of the 65 municipalities, which have been marred by serious irregularities.
Parallel count shows Renamo victory in Nampula
Bulletin Nº. 162| 26th October 2023
In a close race, Renamo has won in Nampula by more than 4000 votes, according to a parallel count of 433 of 441 polling stations.
Parallel count confirms Renamo win in Matola
Bulletin Nº. 161| 21th October 2023
Renamo is winning in Matola with 59% of the vote compared to 34% for Frelimo, with a margin of 80,000 votes. This bulletin has been given access to Renamo's copies of the results sheets (editais) of 791 of 895 (88%) polling stations (mesas) in Matola, which shows the landslide. Turnout was 60%, high for municipal elections.
Renamo win in Maputo confirmed
Renamo won over Frelimo in Maputo city by more than 65,000 votes, with a turnout of 57%. This Bulletin and the Mais Integridade civil society observers have been given access to Renamo's copies of the results sheets (editas) of 833 of 889 (94%) polling stations (mesas) in Maputo city, which confirms the large victory.
Bar Association praises court decisions but says there are those who are still creating barriers
Bulletin Nº. 160| 19th October 2023
The Mozambican Bar Association this Thursday issued a statement in which it expresses “satisfaction with the timely functioning of the judicial power in the municipal elections”. According to the Association, this represents, “a balanced exercise of powers, and dissuades practices that might distort democracy and life in society”.
Catholic Bishops call for restoring legality and avoiding bloodshed
In a statement issued this Thursday, the Catholic Bishops of Mozambique called on the justice system to restore legality to the elections. According to the Episcopal Council of Mozambique, “there is no legality without truth”.
Court orders recount of the votes in Matola City
The judge of the Matola District Law Court on Thursday approved the appeal from the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) and ordered the recount of the votes cast at all the polling stations for the municipal elections in Matola City”.
Parallel count confirms large Renamo victory in Quelimane
Bulletin Nº. 159| 19th October 2023
Renamo gained 51% of the vote in Quelimane compared to 40% for Frelimo, according to a parallel count carried out by the Mais Integridade civil society observer consortium. This goes directly against the official result by the district elections commission, which gave Frelimo 50% and Renamo 44%. As in many other places, it appears that the real editais were replaced with fake ones to give Frelimo a false victory.
KaMavota court orders recount because STAE used 185 fake editais to tabulate results
Bulletin Nº. 158| 19th October 2023
The KaMavota District Court accepted Renamo's appeal and ordered a recount of the votes based on the real editias (results sheets), because "a substantial part and with a preponderant influence on the final results was not calculated on the basis of original editais".
'Ordered from the top' says 1st CNE head Mazula
"What happened in these elections "can only happen because someone higher up ordered it," said Brazão Mazula, the first CNE head, in an interview in O Pais (18 Oct) And he adds that "it's sad that there are official institutions to manage and guide electoral processes and there are unofficial institutions that actually direct electoral processes."
KaMubukwana court dismisses Renamo's case as judge declines to read judgement
Judge Perceverança Mangamela, of the KaMubukwana Municipal District in Maputo City, dismissed Renamo's appeal on the grounds that it "lacks foundation". The judgement was not read out because the judge, who, according to Renamo, was not present. She only had the judgement printed and distributed to the parties.
Court says organised fraud proven in Maputo
Bulletin Nº. 157| 18th October 2023
The court in the Maputo city district of Nhlamankulu District Court found it proven that the district STAE director introduced fake editais (polling station results sheet) and that in a meeting in which Renamo was not present the district election commission approved these fakes to give the victory to Frelimo. It is a brave ruling by the judge and a vital confirmation of the reports from across the country of organised fraud after the municipal elections last week.
Confirmation that results cannot be challenged
But in confirmation that it is impossible to actually challenge the electoral results, the NhlamankuluDistrict court did not hear Renamo's protest ov er the results declared by the district election commission. The law says that a party must first protest to the election commission, and can appeal to the district count if that protest is rejected.
CNE admits ballot counting irregularities
Bulletin Nº. 156| 17th October 2023
"By the time of the tabulation at the polling stations, reports of irregularities were mounting up, constituting real electoral offences," admitted the National Elections Commission in a statement today.
Polling station presiding officer found dead in Milange
The lifeless body of Pedro Manguissa was found on the banks of a busy road in the village of Milange. During the recent local elections, the deceased was a polling station chair at an EPC Eduardo Mondlane polling station in Milange. His murder may be linked to the alleged ballot box stuffing that took place during last Wednesday's 11 October elections. Pedro Manguissa was an employee of the National Meteorological Institute in the Milange district.
Courts in Guruè and Quelimane reject Renamo's complaint
The District Courts have rejected Renamo's complaints in Guruè and Quelimane. The first claimed lack of evidence and the second that Renamo presented unsigned minutes and notices.
Kampfumo and Chamanculo courts under pressure to favour Frelimo
The district courts of Kampfumo and Chamanculo in Maputo city are under political pressure to decide opposition appeals in favour of Frelimo. According to the newspaper Canal de Moçambique, the judges of these two courts have asked the district election commissions for editias proving that Frelimo won in order to compare them with the editias that Renamo presented, which give it victory.
Renamo demonstrates in several municipalities
Today (Tuesday 17 October) there were demonstrations organised by Renamo to contest the election results. In Maputo, the march of thousands of Renamo sympathisers began shortly after 11am at the Xiquelene Market and travelled along Vladimir Lenin Avenue.
Courts force rerun in Cuamba and Chókwè and demand data from election authorities in Maputo, but refuse to hear cases from Chiure and Vilankulo
Bulletin Nº. 155| 16th October 2023
Five district courts today made key rulings on the 11 October election. In Chókwè, Gaza, and Cuamba, Niassa, the courts ruled the elections must be held again. A Maputo court made an unprecedented ruling for transparency. And courts refused to hear cases in Chiure, Cabo Delgado, and Vilankulo, Inhambane, despite Renamo providing evidence that it had won.
Produce the data, court tells election commission, in unprecedented victory for transparency
Election commissions carry out their vote tabulations in secret, often rejecting or making changes to the results sheets (editais) submitted by the polling stations. They keep no record of the changes, and the revised data they use to calculate the final result results which they publish remains secret.
Chiure Court refuses to hear Renamo complaint
The Churie district election commission (CDE) ruled that Frelimo had won, but the parallel count of all 62 polling stations produced by the civil society group Mais Integridade showed Renamo had won. Renamo submitted copies of the official editais from all 62 polling stations to the Chuire district court to prove it had won.
Renamo calls demonstrations Tuesday in all 65 municipalities
Observer parallel count shows
Bulletin Nº. 154| 15th October 2023
Renamo's Political Commission called for demonstrations in all 65 municipalities on Tuesday. The Commission met today (Sunday 15 Oct) in an extraordinary session and concluded that there was "mega fraud" in the elections and that it won. The Political Commission accuses President Nyusi and the Frelimo party of orchestrating the manipulation of the election results with a view to "creating an atmosphere of war in order to remain in power illegitimately".
MDM re-elected in Beira
The only opposition victory so far accepted is in Beira, where MDM was declared victor and will remain in power. MDM won with 112,963 votes (58%), followed by Frelimo 73,302 (38%) and then Renamo 7,045 (4%).
Renamo won in Chiure
Bulletin Nº. 153| 14th October 2023
Mais Integridade civil society observers were in all 62 polling stations in Chiure, Cabo Delgado, and report a Renamo victory by 800 votes. Yet the District Election Commission (CDE) reports a Frelimo victory by 737 votes.
A Challenge
We have a 100% parallel count in Chiure of both the results written on the blackboards during the count and the editais, done by civil society observers. They show a clear Renamo victory. The District Elections Commission (CDE) says Frelimo has won. So far their evidence is secret, but it does not have to be.
New results sheets give victory to Frelimo in Nampula, causing confusion
Bulletin Nº. 152| 13th October 2023
In the city of Nampula there are difficulties in using results sheets (editais) that are not properly stamped and signed. There are polling stations with two conficting editais. For example, at polling station 04, in EP1 Nahene, there is an edital that Renamo believes to be false, in which Frelimo obtained 592 votes. For the same polling station, there is another edital (that Renamo believes to be true) where Frelimo has only 92.
Frelimo steals 3000 votes in Marromeu - unnecessarily
The parallel vote count by Mais Integridade observers shows a massive fraud in Marromeu, adding
more than 3000 votes for Frelimo. But the parallel count also shows it was unnecessary - Frelimo
would have won legitimately.
Riots and shootings in Milange
The announcement of results in Milange, Zambezia, caused unrest. Renamo supporters rioted at the entrance to the District Electoral Commission (CDE) to demand that the results not be published, claiming that they are false and tainted by ballot box stuffing.
Electoral pandemonium: demonstrations, shootings, arrests, and assaults - but silence from electoral bodies
Bulletin Nº. 151| 12th October 2023
Last night and today (Thursday) there were a mix of victory celebrations, violence, arrests and fatal shootings in Chiure, Nampula, Guruè and Quelimane.
Police shootings
Police shot at crowds in several cities. Today, Thursday12 October, in Chiure, Cabo Delgado, three Renamo supporters were shot, one of them fatally. Renamo said: "Our party member was shot by the police while celebrating the confirmation of victory in Chiure at the Renamo delegation."
Presiding officers instructed not to sign polling station results report
In many municipalities there appear to have been "superior instructions" for the polling station presiding officers linked to the Frelimo party, telling them not to sign or post the official results sheets (editais), where the opposition had the most votes.
Internet shutdown as polls close
Bulletin Nº. 150| 11th October 2023
Just as the polls were closing at 6pm, the country experienced an internet blackout by the main operators, most notably Movitel, the operator most used in rural areas and the north.
Closing on time
Most polling stations closed promptly at 6 pm without queues. Only a few still had people waiting to vote. At the Amilcar Cabral EPC in Lichinga, Niassa, only one polling station still had 10 voterss after 6pm.
More people found with already marked ballot papers
In the city of Nampula, an individual was found with 14 votes marked for the MDM and was immediately picked up by police from the 2nd Police Station.
Ballot papers disappeared in Milange - magic or subterfuge?
Bulletin Nº. 149| 11th October 2023
At the Eduardo Mondlane school in Milange, Zambézia, polling station number 0805803-02 had 800 registered voters and was given 840 ballot papers tby the district STAE. But during the day, ballot papers out before all voters registered at that polling station had cast their ballots, and voters are still arriving. Where did the ballot papers go?
Arrested for giving extra ballot papers to a cop
A presiding officer was arrested for giving more than one ballot paper to at least two voters, one of whom was a police officer. This happened at Assembly 09265-01 at the Namigonha Complete Primary School in Nampula city.
Voter turnout drops in south, but rising in the north
Bulletin Nº. 148| 11th October 2023
Turnout in the south has dropped considerably, compared to this morning, with some polling stations almost empty, our correspondents report. But in the centre and north, especially in the cities of Beira and Quelimane, and some areas of Nampula province, turnout is actually increasing. Queues of up to 150 voters are estimated.
Ballot box with votes for Frelimo found in Guruè
The Nova Democracia party in Guruè neutralised alleged Frelimo members with a ballot box full of completed ballots, which led to a riot. The heavily armed police reacted violently against members of Nova Democracia to protect the alleged offenders.
Polls open with long queues
Bulletin Nº. 147| 11th October 2023
Voting began normally across the country at 7 am this morning, according to our 200 correspondents in the 65 municipalities. Nearly all polling stations had long queues of 50 to 150 people, with people voting early on a day which is predicted to be very hot. This suggests a turnout will be about 50%, which is normal for municipal elections.
Frelimo delegate found with ballot papers in Manica
At Sanhathunze Basic School, in the village of Catandica, a Frelimo delegate was found with three ballot papers to favour the ruling party.
Disturbances: Renamo neutralises citizens from other areas who were going to vote in Milange town
Bulletin Nº. 146| 10th October 2023
Renamo supporters are neutralising voters supposedly coming from outside the municipality of Milange town, in Zambézia, which sparked off disturbances, and physical assaults.
Those who have lost their voter cards should go and vote
The general director of STAE, Loló Correia, has re-instructed the STAE provincial directorates to accept that citizens whose names are not on the voter roll, or whose names have been swapped, or are badly written, should be allowed to vote tomorrow.
Oil lamps guarantee lighting in 15 Beira polling stations
At least 15 polling stations on premises that are not connected to the electricity grid may resort to oil lamps to count the votes in Beira.
Frelimo members will be presiding officers of most polling stations in Matola
Bulletin Nº. 145| 09th October 2023
The opposition will play on a tilted playing field in Matola. The presidents, vice-presidents, secretaries and 4th scrutineers of the polling stations - all decision-making positions - come from Frelimo, according to Frelimo's clandestine list of polling station members in Matola.
Dozens injured on the last day of campaigning in Nacala, Cuamba and Metangula
Violence, gunfire and tear gas characterised the last day of campaigning in the municipalities of Nacala-Porto, Cuamba and Metangula. Just over a dozen people were injured, some of them seriously.
Clashes cause serious injuries in Nacala
Bulletin Nº. 144| 08th October 2023
Saturday (7 September) was marked by violent clashes between Frelimo and Renamo supporters in the northern port city of Nacala. The clashes, which began at about 10.00, resulted in six serious injuries counted on the spot.
Masked men beat up head of the Renamo list in Chókwè
After the campaign activities last Thursday, masked men attacked the Renamo head of list in the Chokwe municipality, as he was going home in the company of three of his supporters. In self defence , the Renano men tore off the masks from the attackers which allowed them to identify one of them.
Woman assaulted for wearing an MDM T-shirt
Also in Chókwè city, a woman was assaulted on the public highway, as sh was going home, by a young member of the OJM and staff of ADRS (FIPAG). The woman recognised the youth and she presented the case to the police. The police summoned him to appear at the police station on Friday. When he did not turn up, the police issued a second summons for Saturday.
Have new Frelimo polling stations been set up for thousands of ghost voters ?
Bulletin Nº. 143| 05th October 2023
Some polling stations have been duplicated, and seem to be stations where Frelimo members were unduly registered first, before other voters. Apparently this is to allow thousands of people to vote twice – that is, ghost votes. This would be ballot box stuffing on a grand scale, through the creation of fake polling stations.
Matola postpones trial of electoral crimes to 10 October
The Matola District Law Court, in Maputo province, this Thursday (5 October) postponed to 10 October, the trial of three of the five electoral crimes, recorded and denounced by Renamo and the MDM, during the voter registration, which ran from 20 April to 3 June.
Scuffles in Quelimane
During the celebrations of 4 October, Peace Day, Renamo and Frelimo members clashed in Quelimane, capital of Zambézia province.
Aftermath of the Chókwè clashes: Renamo supporters questioned by the PRM
The police summoned some Renamo supporters to a hearing following the clashes that occurred on Wednesday (4 October) in the Ntomeni market, in the city of Chókwè.
Renamo office burnt down at night, and clashes in Chókwè
Bulletin Nº. 142| 04th October 2023
The head of logistics of Renamo, in the city of Chókwè, says that almost all the logistics for the election campaign, namely flags, posters and foodstuffs, were destroyed in an act of arson on Wednesday (4 October). Unknown assailants threw petrol through the window, and set the office on fire.
Children in the election campaign
While their parents watched impassively, some children in Mocuba, in Zambezia province, paraded in the campaign in favour of Frelimo, through the Tomba de Agua 2 neighbourhood.
Small clashes and pressure on Renamo activists
The campaign on Tuesday (3 October) was modest and relatively calm, But there were skirmishes in Maputo city, when Frelimo supporters attacked Renamo militants.
Frelimo tramples MDM T-shirts and says there is no space for other parties in Homoine
Bulletin Nº. 141| 0rd October 2023
“Where Frelimo is, it cannot make any sense for other parties to be there too. We have plucked the feathers from the cockerels in this way (the symbol of the MDM is a cockerel) Operação Desmonta (Operation Dismantle) continues until 11 October. We are dismantling the uniform and dismantling the vote. Only Frelimo will continue to reign in Homoine”, declared one member of Frelimo, while he trampled on MDM T-shirts.
CNE says it is shocked by the attitude of Frelimo members
The National Elections Commission (CNE), through its spokesperson, Paulo Cuinica, has condemned the attitude of the Frelimo members in Homoíne and said it was “shocking” to see the pictures. Cuinica went further and said he did not expect such an attitude from members of a political party.
Clashes between Renamo and Frelimo in Ulongue and on Mozambique Island cause serious injuries
Bulletin Nº. 140| 03rd October 2023
Renamo and Frelimo were involved in violent clashes in the municipality of Ulongue, Angónia district, in Tete province. The clashes, in which machetes were used, occurred last Thursday (28 September), when supporters of the two parties were in the same place at the same time for their political activities.
Complaints of threats and intimidation
Our correspondents in Bilene, Gaza, report that the MDM has assessed the first week of the election campaign, and concluded that it is facing difficulties because of the destruction of its propaganda material and lack of vehicles needed to reach the more remote areas. In the more accessible areas, the MDM says it has been confronted by members of Frelimo. The implementation of a door-to-door campaign has failed because of the intimidation of the taxi drivers which the MDM has used for its transport.
Renamo says 120 names taken off electoral roll in Morrumbala
Bulletin Nº. 139| 01st October 2023
A Renamo delegate in Morrumbala, Zambézia, was arrested Friday after protesting that at least 120 names of Renamo members have been replaced on the electoral roll by other people. Artur Singano Lampião is representative for Renamo in Majoão neighbourhood. Police accuse him of mobilizing Renamo member to verify their registration after the official date to do this. He is still detained.
Frelimo using State assets for the election campaign in Matola, Chókwè and Vilanculo
The Frelimo Party, in the Matola municipality, is using State assets for its election campaign. The “CIP Eleições” Bulletin witnessed on Saturday, 30 September, in the market in Malhampsene neighbourhood, the use of State vehicles by Frelimo.
DEATH THREAT AGAINST RENAMO MEMBER
Supposed members of the FRELIMO Party have made death threats against a fomer Frelimo member, João Ibraimo Iayaia, who recently joined RENAMO.
PRM refuses to comment on detention of MDM political delegates in Beira
Bulletin Nº. 138| 29th September 2023
The Sofala provincial and Beira city political delegates of the MDM were detained on Wednesday (27 September) in Beira. They were accused of neutralising and presenting in public a member of Frelimo supposedly found collecting voter cards in the Vaz neighbourhood. According to the weekly “Evidências”, the chairperson of the MDM Youth League in the same city was also detained.
MDM has not yet begun its campaign in Alto Molócuè
Our correspondents in Alto Molócuè, in Zambézia, say that the doors of the local MDM office remain shut, and the MDM has not yet participated in any part of the election campaign. In the streets, no MDM posters can be seen, no marches and no meetings.
Frelimo and Renamo are not allowing observation of the election campaign in Maputo province
In Matola, the observers from the “MAIS Integridade” (More Integrity) consortium are facing difficulties in access to information about the agenda of the election campaign of the political parties, particularly Frelimo and Renamo.
Frelimo in Homoine changes the colour of the number plates of state vehicles
Bulletin Nº. 137| 28th September 2023
The vehicle belonging to the Homoíne District Secretariat, in Inhambane, which yesterday displayed a red number plate, today (Thursday 28 September) is circulating with a false number plate, and is being used for political party activities, according to the investigation by our correspondents.
The only surgeon in Nhamayabué is in the campaign, and students have been abandoned in Alto Molócuè
In the town of Nhamayabué, capital of Mutarara district, in Tete province, the only surgeon there is also director of the Frelimo Party campaign. According to our correspondents, since the campaign began, Paulo Mujui has devoted his time to the activities of his party.
Signs of political intolerance in Manjacaze?
Political intolerance and neglect for the rules of the election campaign were noted yesterday (27 September), the second day of the election campaign, in Mandlakazi. Renamo visited the 25th September neighbourhood to flypost its propaganda material, and to ask for votes door to door. But in the middle of the neighbourhood, it faced Frelimo members who were carrying out their own propaganda.
Frelimo uses State vehicles, but hides the number plates
Bulletin Nº. 136| 26th September 2023
Just as in previous elections, the saga of the illegal use by Frelimo of state assets for the election campaign is continuing. In Manhiça, for example, the party has resorted to the strategy of putting posters over the number plates of the vehicles to hide the violation.
Police with good performance, but questioned in Chókwè and Maxixe
Our correspondents in some municipalities report cases where the police avoided clashes between motorcades of Frelimo and of Renamo. But, in Chókwè, Renamo suspects that the police are sharing its plan of activities and its routes with Frelimo.
Beira, the centre of all attention
Bulletin Nº. 135| 27th September 2023
The leadership of the three main political parties, namely Roque Silva (Frelimo), Ossufo Momade (Renamo) and Lutero Simango (MDM), chose the city of Beira to launch the election campaign for the sixth municipal elections.
Five MDM members detained for flyposting before the start of the campaign
The Mozambican police in Chiure, in Cabo Delgado province, detained five members of the MDM who were flyposting election material 12 minuites before zero hours, which was the official start of the election campaign.
Vandalising of materials and posting them in places forbidden by law marked the first day
Our correspondents in almost all the 65 municipalities reported cases of flagrant violations of the law by political parties, who posted their materials in places forbidden by law, such as public institutions, and spaces owned by private individuals, without the due authorisation. But the main occurrence of the day was the vandalising of the election materials of the parties.
MDM offices vandalised in Xai-Xai
Bulletin Nº. 134| 25th September 2023
The Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), in the city of Xai-Xai, in Gaza province, has denounced the sabotage of its head office in the city, and the theft of all its propaganda material. The attack, carried out by unknown assailants, occurred on the night of Saturday to Sunday (23 to 24 September.
CNE asks parties not to use “drunken youths”
In an exhortation prior to the start of the election campaign, on Monday (25 September), the chairperson of the National Elections Commission (CNE), Bishop Carlos Matsinhe, urged the political parties, coalitions of parties, and independent groups of citizens competing in the municipal elections to refrain “from using as their instruments drunken youths or those who have consumed hallucinogenetic drugs”, and to avoid using children in election campaign rallies and parades.
New law stresses municipal power
Bulletin Nº. 133| 20th September 2023
The new municipalities law underlines the huge devolved power of elected local authorities. In some ways, the new law increases central power (see the next article). But primarily the law approved by parliament in August returns to the decentralisation ideals of the first 1997 law.
Comment
Doing our best in a biased election
Bulletin Nº. 132| 19th September 2023
Police Comander Bernardino Rafael on Friday dismissed accusations of attempted killings of two opposition candidates for mayors with an explicitly partisan response. He said the opposition was making unfounded claims of attempted killings in Nampula and Quelimane only because they had no policies to campaign on.
Report on the Observation of The 2023 voter Registration
This report is an assessment of the 2023 voter registration in Mozambique, underaken by the ”More Integrity” Electoral Consortium” (CEMI). This assessment is based on analysing the framework that governs voter registration and its methodology and technology. It is also based on direct observation of the voter registration operations over 45 days in 27 municipalities, done by a team of 68 observers. The report also analyses, in a preliminary manner, the data produced by the registration.
Renamo steps up its rhetoric of violence: “We are not afraid of war”
Bulletin Nº. 131 | 17th September 2023
A week from the start of the election campaign for the municipal elections scheduled for 11 October, the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, once again threatened to resort to violence, if the police are used as an instrument of Frelimo for electoral manipulation.
Block chiefs step up the collection of voter card numbers in the neighbourhoods
In almost all the municipalities, our correspondents report actions by block chiefs and neighbourhood secretaries to register voter card numbers and collect the cards themselves. In Maputo and in Matola, actions by Party branches to collect card numbers have increased in recent days.
Member of Central Brigade orders “The polling station chairperson must guarantee Frelimo’s victory”
Bulletin Nº. 130 | 13th September 2023
This instruction was given to the directors and deputy directors of schools and to senior cadres of the Frelimo Party at a meeting held on 2 September, in the town of Manjacaze, in Gaza province. The meeting, chaired by the Frelimo Party provincial brigade, sought to fine tune the Frelimo Party machine for the municipal elections of 11 October.
Ossufo Momade forecasts war after the elections and threatens to “stop the country” if any mayoral candidate is assassinated
Bulletin Nº. 129 | 12th September 2023
The threat was made yesterday (11 September) during his tour of Cabo Delgado and Niassa provinces. The President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, warned that “Frelimo cannot think” that because Renamo has surrendered its guns, it can humiliate his party.
Renamo withdraws its appeal and RD will stand in eght municipalities
Bulletin Nº. 128 | 08th September 2023
Renamo confirmed on Thursday (7 September) that it has sent a letter to the Constitutional Council, asking to annul the appeal it had submitted to the Council on Monday, against the Democratic Revolution (RD) party because the RD was supposedly using Renamo symbols. According to Renamo sources, the RD overcame the irregularities by presenting new symbols.
Renamo dissidents can compete in the municipal elections, says Constitutional Council
Bulletin Nº. 127 | 31th August 2023
Democratic Revolution (RD), a group of dissidents from Renamo, was prevented from running in the municipal elections, because its delibvered its nomination papers late – but the Constitutional Council yesterday (30 August) determined that the RD should be authorised to stand. As a results the drawing of lots for places on the ballot paper, held earlier this week, was also annulled.
How elections are a lucrative business for members of Frelimo (2)
Bulletin Nº. 126 | 25th August 2023
Without any public tender, the National Elections Commission (CNE) awarded the business of supplying ballot boxes to Escopil Holding to the value of 93.1 million meticais. In the minutes of awarding the contract, the CNE recognised that Escopil is linked to the omission of the name of Filomena Mutoropa from the ballot papers, ihttps://bit.ly/3syZznln 2013, and to the diversion of a truckload of voting material and the theft of ballot papers in 2014. Escopil is a company owned by the Samo Gudo and Chichava families. Jose Chichava is a former Minister of State Administration.
Read the full text
Clashes in Beira caused just two slight injuries
Bulletin Nº. 125 | 21th August 2023
The police in the city of Beira confirm that two people were slightly injured during the clashes on Sunday between supporters of the MDM and of Frelimo. There is no confirmation of stories circulating on social media of people being seriously injured and of one death.
The two people slightly injured were a member of the Beira Municipal Police, and a woman MDM supporter.
Eight municipalities will have citizens lists
Bulletin Nº. 124 | 20th August 2023
Citizens lists will stand in 8 municipalities: Beira, Maputo city, Marracuene, Matola, Mocimboa da Praia, Nacala Porto, Nampula and Quelimane. Two citizens associations have lists in more than one municipality: the Association of Informal Workers of Mozambique (ASTIMO) in Maputo city, Matola, Marracuene, and Beira and the Association for Child and Youth Development in the Community (ACRIAJUDA) in Beira and Quelimane.
Election violence: Frelimo and MDM in violent clashes in Beira
Violent physical clashes occurred on Sunday, 20 August, during the celebrations marking the 116th anniversary of Beira’s elevation to the status of a city. The clashes were between supporters of the Frelimo Party and of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), and fall into a pattern of electoral violence.
Confirmed: eight groups of citizens approved to stand candidates in the municipal elections of 11 October
Bulletin Nº. 123 | 18th August 2023
The National Elections Commission (CNE) is due to annnounce, at 11.00 on Friday, 18 August, the list of candidates approved for the municipal elections of 11 October.The “CIP Eleicoes” Bulletin knows that, in all, 21 lists of candidates have been approved. The Electoral Union coalition dropped out at the last minute, and announced that it is supporting the MDM.
Political violence: Police block march to present the Renamo mayoral candidate in Vilankulo
Bulletin Nº. 122 | 15th August 2023
The incident occurred on Sunday, 13 August, when Renamo organised a parade through the streets of Vulankulo municipality to present its mayoral candidate, Joaquim Quinito Vilanculo. Along the route, a police vehicle appeared and blocked the march. This caused a conflict which almost resulted in physical clashes.
CNE now has candidates ascertained for the 11 October municipal elections
After the checks on the regularity and authenticity of the documents in the files of each of the election candidates, the CNE will meet on Wednesday (16 August) to approve the decision which accepts or rejects the lists of candidates. The final list should be drawn up and distributed at the end of the day, and the lists of candidates will be posted at the premises of the electoral bodies on Thursday.
Eight citizens’ grops have formalised their candidacies for the municipal elections of 11 October
Bulletin Nº. 121 | 13th August 2023
The number of independent citizens’ groups who will participate in this year’s municipal elections could be higher than in 2018, should they all be approved. The increase in the number of citizens’ groups may indicate that there is an ever greater interest of citizens in participating in the life of their municipalities, without joining political parties.
The list of candidacies approved for the municipal elections will be announced by Thursday (17 August)
Checking the regularity and authenicity of documents in the individual files of candidates has already begun, and the process could be concluded by this Monday (14 August). On Tuesday, the National Elections Commission could approve the decision which accepts or rejects particular candidacies. The final list should be announced on Wednesday or Thursday.
Zambézia: Morrumbala district court sentences 40 teachers for committing election crimes
Bulletin Nº. 120 | 08th August 2023
Forty teachers have been found guilty and sentenced for registering as voters within the parameter of Morrumbala municipality, although they do not live within the municipality. Their names were on the priority lists from Frelimo that were given to the voter registration brigades. Furthermore, the court sentenced three brigade supervisors for unduly registering the teachers. In Mopeia district, one woman was sentenced for registering illegally in Morrumbala. The judge of the Morrumbala District Law Court, Soraia Ibrahimo, sentenced all those involved in the crimes to penalties of between three to five months imprisonment.
STAE Director in Quelimane resigns after failure of a secret agreement with Renamo
Bulletin Nº. 119 | 04th August 2023
The district director of STAE (Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat) in Quelimane had a secret agreement with one of his deputies, appointed by Renamo, to grant him 32 places to be filled by registration brigade members from Renamo. But the agreement failed because, four days after the start of voter registration, the head of the Department of Organisation and Electoral Operations decided to transfer some of the Renamo brigade members to other registration brigades. The decision did not please the STAE Deputy Director, who “has his own staff, including his wife (placed as a supervisor in the 17 September EPC) in these brigades”. And so the conflict broke out.
How did the Sofala Provincial Elections Commission block the registration of a Beira women’s association?
Bulletin Nº. 118 | 28th July 2023
The Sofala Provincial Elections Commission (CPES) has rejected the registration for the municipal elections of the Nucleus of Sofala Women’s Associations. But, even before that formal decision was taken, there were clear signs that the candidacy would be rejected. First, wrong instructions were given to the association, and when these were complied with, nobody accepted its documents.
Who are the heads of the MDM’s lists for the 2023 municipal elections?
Bulletin Nº. 117 | 25th July 2023
The Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) has approved its candidates for the municipal elections of 11 October. Silvério Ronguane, a parliamentarian in the Assembly of the Republic, and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the São Tomás University, moves from Matola, where he stood in 2018, to become head of the MDM list in the new municipality of Matola-Rio.
Frelimo District Committee disqualifies mayoral candidate for Homoine
Bulletin Nº. 116 | 20th July 2023
A mobile phone text message (SMS) was sent out on Wednesday (19 July) declaring that Marcelino Samuel Langa is no longer the head of the Frelimo list (the mayoral candidate) for the municipal elections in the town of Homoine, in Inhambane province. According to the District Committee, Marcelino Langa “did not win the Frelimo internal elections for head of the list”. The winner was Juvial Setina.
Renamo blocks approval of the RD at the CNE
Bulletin Nº. 115 | 19th July 2023
Mozambique’s National Elections Commission (CNE) has approved 22 of the 23 political parties, coalitions and groups of citizens which applied to register for the municipal elections scheduled for 11 October. But Renamo has blocked the registration of the Democratic Revolution (RD) party, on the grounds that its is using Renamo symbols. The final decision will be known today (19 July) after a meeting of the CNE. Democratic Revolution was founded by Renamo disssidents who oppose the leadership of Renamo President Ossufo Momade. It is led by a former senior Renamo figure, Vitano Singano.
Special Report on Gaza ghosts
Are people fleeing Gaza and Niassa? Or are the ghosts refusing to vote?
Bulletin Nº. 114 | 17th July 2023
Registration in Gaza and Niassa this year is much lower than for the previous 2018 municipal elections. In the districts with municipal elections, Gaza registration fell by 52,835 compared to the previous municipal elections in 2018 - this is 10% of the voting age population of those districts.
Who are the heads of the Frelimo lists for the municipal elections of 2023?
Bulletin Nº. 113 | 16th July 2023
On Sunday (16 July), the Frelimo Party concluded the election of the heads of its lists for the municipal elections scheduled for October this year. There are municipalities where the incumbent mayors lost in the inner-party elections, and so cannot enjoy a further term of office. But the majority of the municipalities put their money on re-electing the incumbent mayors.
CNE approves results of the problematic registration, with the votes of Frelimo
Bulletin Nº. 112 | 13th July 2023
The representatives of Frelimo did not accept the exclusion of the “ghost” voter rolls found in Zambézia and in Nampula. The decision was approved with 10 votes in favour, all from Frelimo, and seven against, from the opposition.
The CNE members indicated by the opposition contested the results presented. They based their opposition on the irregularities verified during the registration, and the fact that there was no consensus about the data in the district and provincial commissions.
Electoral crimes: Morrumbala district attorney’s office sues 41 teachers
Bulletin Nº. 111 | 05th July 2023
Members of the managements of schools in the Megaza administrative post, which is about 45 kilometres from the Morrumbala district capital and municipal area, have been accused of electoral crimes. Their names were on the lists sent to the voter registration posts in the municipal area to be attended to as cases that merited priority. 41 public functionaries from the education sector have seen their names listed in the criminal proceedings being undertaken by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Morrumbala district.
Chaotic registration data suggests 90,000 people in Zambézia can vote in municipalities illegally
Bulletin Nº. 110 | 04th July 2023
Municipal elections will be swamped by voters from outside the municipality in Zambézia province, which could affect the outcomes in Alto Molocue and Gurue which were subject to serious fraud in the last elections in 2018 and in Mocumba and Maganja da Costa where Frelimo won by just a few hundred votes in 2018.
Renamo appeals to the National Elections Commission
Bulletin Nº. 109 | 03th July 2023
At stake is the movement of the computers (known as Mobile IDs), the registration of voters outside of the times fixed by the National Elections Commission (CNE), the registration of voters by resorting to data received or collected by telephone, and the refusal of brigade members to provide data to monitors from the opposition parties, on the grounds that they were obeying higher orders. There is still more: Renamo also denounces the transport of people who do not live in the municipal area to register as voters inside the Matola municipality.
Opposition members denounce 10,000 ghost voters in Quelimane and Alto Molocue
Bulletin Nº. 108 | 30th June 2023
The Zambezia provincial branch of the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE) added 10,000 extra voters to the figures for the voter registration announced by the district STAEs in Quelimane and Alto Molocue.
In Alto Molocue there was one entirely fictitious voter registration post, according to members appointed by the opposition parties on the Zambezia Provincial Elections Commission (CPEZ). Their protest was rejected by the majority of members, loyal to the ruling Frelimo Party.
Know the Frelimo pre-candidates for the Maputo city and province municipalities
Bulletin Nº. 107 | 28th June 2023
In Marracuene, Francisco Mabjaia or Shafee Sidat – one of them will be the head of the Frelimo list for the new municipality of Marracuene.
In the capital, Eneas Comiche did not not win enough votes to run for a further term of office, and the Frelimo candidate could be Razaque Manhique. Calisto Cossa will almost certainly be the head of the list for Matola.
STAE staff denounce contradiction in data on voters registered in Guruè
Bulletin Nº. 106 | 19th June 2023
The official number of voters registered in the municipal area, presented by the provincial STAE, is different from the number at the disposal of the Gurue district STAE, and also from the numbers ascertained during the public display of the voter rolls.
According to this denunciation, signed by two STAE staff members, both appointed by the MDM, namely Agostinho Morgado and Manecas Mopuita, respectively the assistant chief, and the technician for the Department of Organisation and Electoral Operations, the data from the provincial STAE show that 63,700 voters were registered during the 45 days of voter registration, which is 148% of the target, much higher than the 43,000 voters forecast.
High numbers suggest 230,000 ghosts have registered, and many are sleeping on the beach
Bulletin Nº. 103 | 08 June 2023
Registration totals confirm our reports of Gaza registering ghost voters and Beira supressing registration. Nationally, in municipalities 91% of voting age adults registered. In Gaza it was 129%, the highest in the country, which means Gaza was able to register 53,000 more voting age adults than the National Statistics Institute says exist. These are "ghost voters" - people who cannot exist. In 38 municipalities, more than half, a total of 229,671 ghost voters were registered.
He denounced the illegal registration of 227 voters in Mandlakazi Young brigade member arrested on orders of STAE District Director
Bulletin Nº. 102 | 07 June 2023
Brigade member Dercilio Nhantembo was picked up on Wednesday morning (7 June) by two police agents, who were transported in a white Toyota four wheel drive vehicle, driven by the owner himself , Jonas Mathe, the Manjacaze STAE district director. This is a vehicle with a South African number plate.
Observers report bad start to public check of registration books
Bulletin Nº. 101 | 06 June 2023
40% of registration posts visited by observers yesterday were not open or did not have register books (cadernos) available for inspection. This week it is possible for voters to inspect the register, in part to check the accuracy of their own record. Registration posts must print out copies of their own register books, and many did not do so. Observers from the civil society consortium Mais Integridade visited 138 registration posts yesterday, and 25 were not open and another 31 had problems - mostly no registration books to display. Problems were particularly notable in Zambézia and Cabo Delgado.
Final day confirmed that machine breakdowns really are manipulated
Bulletin Nº. 100 | 01frst June 2023
In many posts in the districts dominated by the opposition in central and northern Mozambique, the registration posts on Saturday closed at between 17.00 and 21.00, because the electricity company (EDM) ordered a series of interruptions of electric current, and the STAE district directors ordered that computer breakdowns be declared. In Sofala, there was a strengthened police contingent at the posts that were still registering voters, but the machines broke down constantly.
The machines did not break down, they were manipulated
Bulletin Nº. 96 | 02nd June 2023
According to an investigation undertaken by the Bulletin “CIP Eleicoes”, there are few real mechanical failures, and most of the alleged problems are caused, intentionally, by brigade members to avoid registering members of the opposition parties. A specialist in “Mobiles ID” (as the computers used in the registration are known) says that the level of breakdowns reported in these elections has never occurred in any other country.
No extra days: registration posts will operate until zero hours on 4 June
Bulletin Nº. 95 | 02frst June 2023
The National Elections Commission (CNE) has decided not to extend the voter registration currently under way. However, it did decide to extend the working hours of the registration posts today and tomorrow (2 and 3 June). Tomorrow, Saturday 3 June, the posts will open at 07.00 and work until zero hours.
Absent and late brigade members irritate voters in Beira
Bulletin Nº. 94 | 01nd June 2023
By about 13.00 this Thursday (1 June), the brigade members chosen to operate the second machine at the Chota EPC had not come to work, leaving dozens of voters waiting. They had been queuing up since early morning to exercise their civic right.
Blockages by STAE director cause overcrowding in Sofala posts
Bulletin Nº. 93 | 01 June 2023
The blockages imposed by the STAE district director in Beira, Nelson Carlos de Rosário, could mean that many citizens will be unable to vote this year. Throughout Sofala province there are still above average sized crowds at the registration posts, just threee days from the end of the registration period. This contrasts with the South, particularly Gaza, where some brigades cannot register even 20 voters a day.
Enigmatic: Gurue has registered 15,000 voters more than its target, but there are still many people arriving at the posts
Bulletin Nº. 92 | 31th May 2023
Although the target has been surpassed, voters are continuing to arrive, en masse, at the voter registration posts in Gurue. The average number of voters who register remains between 150 and 240 per day. But where do so many voters come from?
A further 200 voters registered at night in just one brigade in Manjacaze
Bulletin Nº. 91 | 31th May 2023
This denunciation came from one brigade member (interviewer) at the Madendere registration post, in the Chidenguele administrative post, Manjacaze district, in Gaza. In order to make the adulteration of the data possible, the brigade member was sent to the district STAE to deliver the weekly report. But when he returned to the post, the following day, he found that the machine he uses had a further 200 voters more than he had registered.
Ibo has already registered 186% of its voters
Bulletin Nº. 90 | 30th May 2023
The island of Ibo has registered slightly more than 6,000 voters more than the 7,200 that were envisaged in the projections from the National Statistics Institute. As yet, there is no explanation for what has happened, but Ibo is an island that is sheltering war-displaced people from the neighbouring districts of Quissanga, Macomia, and Mocímboa da Praia, among others.
Gaza: registration posts almost deserted
Bulletin Nº. 89 | 29th May 2023
Over the last four days, our correspondents visited 25 registration posts, at various times, in six districts of Gaza province and they describe an absence of voters in most of the posts. Others have just a few voters. There are registration posts which haven’t managed to register more than five voters in days.
Observers find most Nacala and Quelimane registration posts have problems, but Beira improved
Bulletin Nº. 88 | 28th May 2023
The opposition provinces of Nampula and Zambézia continue to suffer a registration crisis. Observers from the Mais Integridade civil society observation consortium found 89% of registration posts visited in Quelimane in the week of 19-25 May had problems, a sharp increase from the 68% the week before. In Nacala Porto 75% had problems, and in Nampula city 50%, both higher than in the previous week.
Another chapter in the CNE/STAE soap opera
The STAE General Director Ignores the CNE Decision to Suspend the Beira STAE District Director
Bulletin Nº. 87 | 25th May 2023
The Chairperson of the CNE, Bishop Carlos Matsinhe, signed a decision different from the decision issued by consensus by the members of the CNE. The suspension of the Beira STAE district director was confirmed in a communique on Thursday, and by the CNE spokesperson on Friday of last week. But he remains at work, because he has not yet been formally suspended.
Maxixe police command notifies block chief found with voter cards
Bulletin Nº. 86 | 24th May 2023
Olinda Rafael, a block chief in Maquetela neighbourhood, in Maxixe, has been found with more than 20 voter cards in her house, which she collected in her neighbourhood. Next Friday (26 May), Ms Olinda will be questioned in the police station.
Monitor forced to return money charged to citizens to register
Bulletin Nº. 85 | 23th May 2023
A monitor from the FRELIMO Party, stationed at the voter registration post in the Pista Velha EPC, in the town of Alto Molócuê, has been forced to return the money he demanded from two citizens for their registration. The incident happened last Friday (19 May), when two citizens, a mother and her daughter, asked the monitor to attend to them, since they had been trying to register for the previous three weeks without success. One of them was pregnant. In response, the monitor asked for 100 meticais for the two to register. Since they needed to register, they ended up by giving him the money.
Observers find high levels of problems, especially in opposition controlled municipalities which Frelimo is trying to win
Bulletin Nº. 84 | 23th May 2023
Observers found that in the 4th week of observation, 11-18 May 2023, that 28% of registration posts visited showed significant problems. These largely relate to inability to print voters cards and to shortages of materials. Nationally 28% of polling stations had problems, which is very high after a pilot registration and three weeks of actual operation.
57% of voters registered by Sunday
Bulletin Nº. 83 | 22th May 2023
The Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE) announced this Monday (22 May), during the conference on the balance of the 30 days of voter registration, that up until Sunday (21 May) 5.5 million voters had been registered, which is 57% of the universe of 9.9 million voters who are expected to register.
Does Gaza envisage registering 305,000 “ghost voters”?
Bulletin Nº. 82 | 21th May 2023
It seems that the soap opera is being repeated. The National Statistics Institute (INE) forecasts the registration of of 517,000 potential voters in Gaza province,but STAE in Gaza projects the registration of 822,000. Once again STAE in Gaza is not using the forecasts issued by the INE, but its own projections that were used in the elections of 2019.
Only 47.4% of voters registered in 26 days
Bulletin Nº. 81 | 19th May 2023
19 days from the end of the voter registration period, the majority of the potential voters have not yet registered. This data has obliged the National Elections Commission (CNE) to instruct the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE) to increase the number of computers (known as “Mobile IDs”) in the most critical provinces, and to extend the working hours of the registration brigades from eight to ten hours a day.
Three machines were operating until 23.00 in Matola
Bulletin Nº. 80 | 18th May 2023
The computers in question (known as “Mobile IDs”) are from the voter registration posts at the Teacher Training Institute (IFP), Matola C and the Adult Educator Training Institute (IFEA) and they were registering voters until it was almost early morning on Thursday.
“The circle is closed” and “the enemy is nervous”
The “CIP Eleições” Bulletin reveals the scheme to exclude voters of the opposition in order to benefit Frelimo.
Bulletin Nº. 78 | 17th May 2023
The coordination is done in the WhatsApp group named “STAE Supervisor Beira”, administered by the Beira district director of STAE, Nelson Carlos do Rosário. The MDM has already laid a complaint against him for criminal activity with the Sofala Provincial Attorney’s Office.
From the messages between members of the group, one can understand that the slowness in attendance, some of the machine breakdowns, the rejection of witnesses and of other official documents, such as the neighbourhood card or declarations, are deliberate and are part of a scheme to wear out the electorate of the opposition and to benefit Frelimo.
It is a film with grotesque episodes.
“Mais Integridade” consortium proposes extending the period of voter registration
Bulletin Nº. 77 | 16th May 2023
The “Mais Integridade” (“More Integrity”) Consortium believes that the irregularities and equipment breakdowns justify extending the deadline for registration, and recommends that the electoral management bodies should clean up the irregularities noted in order to guarantee that the voter registration is credible.
The Consortium, in the voice of its chairperson, Edson Cortez, director of the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), expressed his disquiet at the constant breakdowns of the “Mobile ID” computers and the printers, including rejection by the machines of certain people, notably the elderly. In several municipalities, according to the Consortium, this situation, together with the slowness in attending to citizens, is causing voters to give up, which may not be beneficial to any of the election stakeholders.
Two more clandestine registration posts in Tete and in Maganja da Costa?
Bulletin Nº. 76 | 15th May 2023
Last Sunday (14 May) the Renamo and MDM monitors discovered two more clandestine voter registration posts set up in houses in Moatize, in Tete province, and in Maganja da Costa, in Zambézia.
The justification given by the brigade members in Moatize was that they were registering voters in the home of the community leader, because of the distance between the school where the official registration post operates and the place where they keep the equipment.
In Maganja da Costa, the clandestine registration post was in an abandoned house, in the Muanhula neighbourhood, in Maganja da Costa town, in Zambézia province.
More registration equipment found in homes in Matola
Bulletin Nº. 75 | 14th May 2023
The equipment in question is from the registration brigades of Campo de Ndlavela, in the T3 administrative post, and of Bunhiça, in Machava. They were being kept in private homes which it is supposed belong to block chiefs. It is not known whether or not they were used during the night to register voters from outside the municipal area.
The first registration equipment was found by opposition monitors in Ndlavela neighbourhood, in Matola. This is equipment from brigade 105, located in Campo de Ndlavela, block 25 (Videos).
The second batch of equipment was found in a house in Bunhiça neighbourhood, in the Machava administrative post. It is equipment used by the brigade located at block 64 (Videos). The supervisor said that she just received orders from the coordinator to take the equipment to be kept in that residence, and she was not responsible for moving the equipment to that house.
PRM release AMUSI monitor detained illegally in Guruè
Bulletin Nº. 74 | 12th May 2023
The Mozambican police (PRM) in Guruè on Thursday released a monitor from the party AMUSI
(Action of the United Movement for Salvation), Guedes Rui Suandique Portugal, who had been
detained last Friday (5 May) for allegedly disturbing the voter registration. Guedes Portugal spent six
days in the prison cells without his detention being legalised, and without any criminal case against
him being opened.
The victim, now at liberty, said he was taken to the cells because he had denounced the abandonment
of his post by a data input operator at the voter registration post in the Nacuacue EPC, where Guedes
Portugal had been placed by his party. According to Portugal, the Gurue STAE director and the
chairperson of the District Elections Commission (CDE) obliged him to rewrite the report previously
submitted by the team of MDM and AMUSI monitors, to deny that the data input operator had been
absent from the post (Vídeos).
Guruè Case:
Report recommends opening disciplinary proceedings against whistle blowers
Bulletin Nº. 73 | 11th May 2023
The deputy director and two assistant heads of the Organisation and Elections Operations Departments (ROOE), all from the opposition parties (Renamo and the MDM), could be subjected to disciplinary proceedings for “proven nsubordination and incitement to violence”.
This suggestion arises from two reports. The first is a report from the consultation which was headed by the Deputy President of the Zambézia Provincial Elections Commission, Orlando Mote, while the second is from a Multi-Sector Commission of six members, only one of whom is from the opposition (Isabel Guirugo, representing the MDM).
Festival of irregularities
Monitors abort attempt to register more than 50 members of Frelimo in Matola
Bulletin Nº. 72 | 10th May 2023
A bus of the Matola Municipal Public Transport Company (ETM) was held on Tuesday (9 May) by monitors of the opposition parties, in Matola city, with more than 50 members of Frelimo on board, who had come from the village of Mahoche, in Tenga locality, in the Pessene administrative post, Moamba district, Maputo province. Mahoche is located 30 km from Matola city.
The bus was caught at the Matola C Primary School, when its passengers were trying to register as voters at the same school. Unfortunately for the group, the computer at this post was not working. So they were told to go and register at the registration post in Block 22, the nearest to where they were. All the passengers walked towards the recommended post. The ETM bus waited for them to register, and would then take them back to Mahoche.
Observers report more problems and misconduct in 2nd
week
Bulletin Nº. 71 | 09th May 2023
The registration process deteriorated in the second week, according to the only civil society observer
group, Mais Integridade. They report registration posts having to suspend of operations due to
breakdowns and lack of materials increased to 26% compared to 20% in the first week. They found
18% of those registering did not receive their voters cards on the day of registration due to
breakdown of printers, and prevalence of electoral offences. Their continue to be problems with
cameras not taking adequate pictures, particularly of older people who are sometimes sent home
without being registered.
Despite the ban on giving priority to some Frelimo groups, the observers report this continues in
many places. Groups of teachers and others enter immediately without queuing. In several posts
queueing citizens objected and the process was disrupted. In a few posts, there continue to be
restrictions on journalists and observers.
Problems in Nampula Registry Office are blocking citizens lists
Bulletin Nº. 70 | 08th May 2023
An alleged problem in the system of the Registry Office for Legal Entities, in Nampula, may prevent
groups of citizens from running candidates for the municipal elections in that province. Because of
this supposed problem, the registry office is refusing to register names of organisations, or to issue
definitive registrations, steps which are imperative for the candidatures of citizens’ groups.
This constraint is occurring a few months from the start of the submission of candidatures. Our
bulletin knows, from a source linked to the Nampula Registry Office, that the problem has dragged
on for five weeks and that “it’s only Maputo who can say what is really going on”.
After Guruè and Chiure, now it's Ribáuè
STAE brigade caught red-handed registering
people at night in Iapala
Bulletin Nº. 69 | 07th May 2023
Two mobile computers were found being used to register voters at 9pm Saturday (last night), at the
residence of the Frelimo party first secretary, in Iapala, 40 km from Ribáuè and far outside the
municipality. When they were caught, about 20 voters and the brigade members ran away - as shown
in this video.
The two computers that were being used had been taken from Ribauè Sede EPC and
Quithele registration posts. In these two posts no one has been registered for a week,
allegedly because the equipment is broken, when in fact the computers were moved to
other areas for clandestine registration at night.
Balance
Voter registration: 15 days of problems!
Bulletin Nº. 68 | 05th May 2023
All our 200 correspondents, spread across the country, agree that the first 15 days were characterised by various problems. Among these, there stand out constant breakdowns of the Mobile ID computers, and the printers, priority given to government employees in registration, slowness in attendance, mobilisation of people to register in municipal areas, clandestine printing of voter cards, voter cards with serious problems. These problems were found at various registration posts.
In these first two weeks, the Lexton/Artes Gráficas consortium, hired for this business of importing and maintaining the registration equipment, showed a notorious incapacity to place technical staff to solve problems in record time. Hence some brigades continue to spend days without printing cards. Some machines go for an entire day broken down. There are suspicions that some of the equipment was reconditioned, because it suffered breakdowns as from the first day.
Brigade members ignore instruction from STAE-Central and continue to obey Frelimo
Bulletin Nº. 67 | 04th May 2023
At various voter registration posts, our correspondents are continuing to report cases where priority attendance is granted to public employees, which means that other potential voters who arrived at the queues in the early hours of the morning remain in line for the entire day without being able to register. This decision of the brigade members ignores the instruction from STAE-central, issued last Saturday, which orders the STAE provincal representations “to forbid the reception and special attendance to lists or organised groups outside the queues at the voter registration posts”.
In Alto Molócuè, the priority given to state employees and their acquaintances continues to dominate voter registration at various posts such as, for example, at the Futuro Melhor EPC.
Staff from various sectors have enjoyed priority in the registration area, which infuriates the citizens who join the queues early in the morning, and end up being unable to register.
At the voter registration post at the Pista Velha EPC, also in Alto Molócuè, attendance is slow due to the priority given to the public employees, members of party cells and their friends. By the afternoon there were citizens who had not been able to register since the day when voter registration began. Some citizens, feeling tired, are abandoning this place and are resorting to other registration posts.
Civil society observers find most registration normal but 20% of posts with problems
Bulletin Nº. 66 | 03rd May 2023
The consortium Mais Integridade ("More integrity") is the only civil society observation of the registration process, with 68 observers distributed across all provinces. In the first week it visited 474 registration posts in 27 municipalities, which is 11% of the 4,292 posts nationally.
"The majority of the visits by the observation teams found a large affluence of citizens and an orderly environment, although the slowness of attendance caused disturbances of order, including cases of interruption of operations, in about 5% of the visited posts", said Mais Integridade in its report. "In 10% of visits a poor mastery of the equipment was observed. The main weaknesses were the operation of the computer - 58% of the cases, and capturing fingerprints - 29% of the cases. These weaknesses contributed greatly to the slowness of the service."
Other important points made by the observers included:
"Of the total number of brigade members found during visits to census posts, 60% were women, 81% were young (between 18 and 35 years old), and 1.3% were people with disabilities."
"Frelimo had party monitors in at least 81% of visited posts, Renamo in 73%, and MDM in 49%. A fourth party had monitors in some posts in some municipalities of Nampula and Zambezia. At the level of party agents present during observer visits, only 30% were women."
1.8 million register is first 10 days
Bulletin Nº. 65 | 03rd May 2023
Registration during the first ten days, through Saturday, was 1.8 mn which is 18% of the target of 9.9 mn, STAE (Secretariado Técnicao de Administração Eleitoral) told a press conference today (2 May). There are 3.192 brigades, registering an average of 180,805 citizens per day, which is 57 people per day. Registration is highest in Gaza - 29% of the target - and lowest in three provinces which have high opposition support - Nampula, Tere and Zambézia have registered only 15% of the target. More women have registered than men - 947,637 women compared to 860,416 men.
STAE accepts there were initial problems with computers and printers, but said today that all registration posts are open and problems are "drastically reduced" <"reduiziu drasticamente no ultimos dias">. But reports from our correspondents in all municipalities disagree. A few posts they visited were not open or not operational. And card printers remain a major problem - correspondents report posts that have not printed cards in the past three or four days. Our correspondents report at least one quarter of registration posts with supply or technical problems, mainly card printing.
Elderly voters are main victims of rejection by the registration machines
Bulletin Nº. 61 | 27th April 2023
Data gathered by our correspondents, spread across all the districts that contain municipalities, show that elderly people have been rejected by the machines, particularly in facial recognition.
In the last two days, more than ten elderly people were counted whose faces were not recognised by the registration machines. Just today (26 April), in the registration brigade at Djuba B, in the new municipal town of Matola-Rio, four people found that their faces were not recognised, and three of them were elderly. Later, two of the elderly voters succeeded in registering at their second attempt, but one only managed to register at another brigade, in another post, in the same locality.
Voter cards with several defects
Bulletin Nº. 60 | 26th April 2023
Our correspondents in several districts where voter registration is taking place report that the voter cards, which are being produced through the Mobile ID computers, show a variety of defects.
Some cards emerge with stains and with out-of-focus photographs, without the slightest quality. On voting day, this could lead to disqualifying the voter. Some photos could make it difficult to certify the authenticity of the card.
When voters complain about photographs of poor quality, which could lead to their disqualification at the polling stations, some members of the registration brigades agree to correct them, but others do not.
One brigade member at Chinonaquila, in Matola Rio, in Maputo province, recognized that the first cards printed did indeed carry stains and out-of-focus photos, but he said the problem has now been solved.
There are cases of cards being issued without the signature or fingerprint of the bearer. In Nacala Port, Nampula province, Renamo protested that in many cases voter cards for its members had been issued without fingerprints and signatures of the bearers.
Our correspondents in Angoche and Chimoio, in Nampula and Manica provinces respectively, reported acts of violence last Sunday, involving monitors from Frelimo and Renamo.In Angoche, the violence began when Frelimo accused Renamo of clandestinely bringing a car with its members resident outside the municipal boundary to register as voters. According to our correspondents in Angoche, Renamo tried to remove Frelimo members from the queues. This disorganised the queues, which generated misunderstandings and physical assaults.
Our correspondent managed to film the confusion, but the Renamo members surrounded him and, threatening to beat him up, they obliged him to delete the film. Intervention by a police officer prevented our correspondent from being assaulted, but the video was erased.
A message attributed to the supervisor of the Inguri EPC registration post, where the incident occurred, said that the Renamo members and sympathisers threatened that the Frelimo Party secretary would be affected by a stroke within a week. In the midst of the argument, there were physical assaults, which resulted in partial damage to the printer used for the registration.
Cabo Delgado STAE awards $4 mn 'urgent' contracts to Frelimo-linked businessmen
Bulletin Nº. 58 | 24th April 2023
Urgent contracts for transport and supplies for the Cabo Delgado registration worth $4mn were awarded to companies linked to figures close to Frelimo and politically influential businessmen in the province. The awards were made by the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) and published on the 20 April 2023 daily Notícias (see below).
The Centre for Public Integrity (CIP) researched the contracts and comments "that the awards reflect the same pattern as always. They are mostly to companies whose shareholders have strong links to the Frelimo party."
Omar Rent a Car won the contract to hire 21 4x4s for $1.4mn, but CIP calculated that it would have cost less - $1.3mn - to buy new cars rather than hire them. Omar Rent a Car is owned by Omar Omar, who CIP says "is closely linked to the Provincial Director of STAE in Cabo Delgado."
Census equipment did not arrive or did not work across the country
Bulletin Nº. 56 | 23th April 2023
The first day of the census was marked by machine breakdowns in many registration posts. In some districts, some registration posts did not open due to the late arrival of the equipment and/or breakdowns. We estimate that one-third of registration posts were affected by missing or broken equipment or by poor training in the use of the computers and printers.
Elections-Bulletin-56-20Apr23-pm_equipment and training failures
Most registration posted opened on time, but worked very slowly
Bulletin Nº. 55 | 20th April 2023
The vast majority of polling stations opened on time, on the first day of voter registration. But voter registration, very slow due to poor mastery of the machines by the voter registration brigades.
While for some it takes between 5 and 10 minutes, for most of the brigades registration took from 15 to as much as 45 minutes per voter.
In Chimoio, at Amilcar Cabral Primary School, the Secretary of State and the Governor of Manica province were registered by a special brigade, known as the "shock brigade", whose function is to intervene in situations of breakdowns or anomalies. Registration took 10 minutes for the Secretary of State and five minutes for the governor. Once the registration of officers was over, the special brigade left and was replaced by the local team. This brigade lacked experience handling of the machines. The duration of registration was extended from five minutes to 15 minutes for each voter.
Some brigades were paralyzed until 9 o'clock due to the breakdown of the machines. The EPC 1 de Junho, Matola-Rio, the brigade were still waiting a 9 am for the technicians to repair them. Similar problems were reported by our correspondents in many municipalities. There were some problems of breakdown of machines and their printers. In some cases, the machines were not recognising the fingerprints of the brigade members.
Election-Bulletin-55-20Apr23-am-Registration-opens
10 million can register to vote
Bulletin Nº. 54 | 19th April 2023
There are 9.921.625 voting age adults who can register between 20 April and 3 June, according to the Institute Nacional de Estatistica (INE). Of those, about 58% are young people, between 18 and 35 years old.
Elections will be held in 65 municipalities on 11 October. Registration takes place this year in the entire district of those districts which contain a municipality. Thus registration will take place in 62 districts plus the city of Maputo; Boane (Maputo) and Bilene (Gaza) contain two municipalities each.
The number that can register is only 2/3 of the national voting age population; 1/3 live in districts without elected municipalities and can only register next year and vote in national elections in October 2024.
District government has ordered compulsory return of staff to Mocímboa da Praia
Bulletin Nº. 53 | 18th March 2023
Staff of the public administration, who were displaced from Mocimboa da Praia to various other district, must return to Mocímboa da Praia by the end of this month. Anyone who does not return will not receive their wages. The order comes from the district government,and was issued on the eve of the start of voter registration.
The government decision can be interpreted in two ways. The first concerns the fear that Renamo had already expressed that Frelimo wants to force elections in Mocímboa da Praia, due to the advantage it has in counting on the support of public administration employees. Indeed, the forced return of these employees, without any advance warning, seems to prove Renamo right.
2023 Municipal Elections
Mocímboa da Praia hosts electoral civic education campaign in Cabo Delgado
Bulletin Nº. 52 | 10th March 2023
The Cabo Delgado Provincial Elections Commission is launching this Monday (10 April) the electoral civic education campaign in Mocímboa da Praia.
To supervise the campaign, CNE members were sent to that municipality. The members of the CNE in Mocímboa do not have the mandate to assess the conditions, merely to supervise the start of the civic education campaign.
But will there be elections in Mocímboa da Praia?
The voter registration begins in ten days time. The decision as to whether or not there will be elections in Mocímboa is already delayed, which makes it clear that the proposal of the Provincial Elections Commission (CPE) will prevail. That proposal is to hold the elections of 11 October only in the municipal area. Renamo is promising to take the debate to the next meeting of the CNE.
Last flight with election material lands today in Maputo
Bulletin Nº. 51 | 4th March 2023
The last plane carrying electoral material lands on Tuesday night (4 April) at Maputo International Airport, according to a press release from the National Elections Commission.
This flight, from Hong Kong, is the third and last flight containing voter registration material.
The second plane to arrive with electoral material was from France and it landed at Maputo International Airport, on 26 March. The first, which came from Hong Kong, landed in Maputo in early March, carrying 108 tonnes of various equipment for the voter registration.
STAE report shows
There are no security conditions for holding voter registration in Mocímboa da Praia
Bulletin Nº. 50 | 03rd March 2023
STAE is proposing that the registration be held within the municipal perimeter, where security conditions are acceptable – but the costs of air transport services are unsustainable: about 140 million meticais (2.2 million dollars). The Government is facing a liquidity crisis. The CNE is not functioning fully for lack of funds. It is only holding meetings. Last week some members threatened not to go to the meeting because of a lack of fuel.
The report of the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE), sent last Monday (27 March) to the office of the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (CNE), concludes: “there are no security conditions outside the radius of the municipality”. The report notes that the district has recorded the gradual return of the population, but they are all concentrated in the municipal territory.
As a solution, STAE proposes that voter registration be held only in the municipal territory and not in the entire district. Mocimboa da Praia would be the only district where registration would be held only in the municipal area. Even so, STAE is suggesting other measures: greater protection and security on the perimeter of the registration posts; the allocation of two or more members of the defence and security forces to each brigade; an increase in the number of brigades from four (in 2018) to nine in 2023; and the allocation of aircraft.
Proposals for territorial demarcation approved by the Maputo Provincial Assembly
The Marracuene municipality covers 240 km2 and Matola-Rio only 105 km2
Bulletin Nº. 49 | 30th March 2023
The populous localities of Matalane and Bobole, where the two largest breweries (producing the 2M and Heineken brands) are located, lie outside the boundaries of the Marracuene municipality, while Mulotana remains outside Matola-Rio.
The proposals were approved this Wednesday (29 March) by the Maputo Provincial Assembly, according to infomation shared by the Marracuene District Adminstrator, Shafee Sidat.
The initial proposal from the technical staff of the Ministry of State Administration and the Public Service (MAEFP) was that the Marracuene Municipality would cover a municipal area of only 82 km2. In this first proposal, the municipality did not include the localities of Michafutene and Macaneta II. The latter is one of Mozambique’s main tourist zones. But, after discussions between local stakeholders and the MAEFP technical staff, the Marracuene municipality was extended to cover 240 km2. But the local political actors wanted Matalane and Bobole to also form part of the new Marracuene municipality. This would mean the two largest breweries (2M and Heineken) becoming part of the municipality.
Final blow to the 2018 Agreement with Afonso Dhlakama
Frelimo will amend the constitution between June and August to eliminate district elections
Bulletin Nº. 48 | 29th March 2023
It’s decided. As from June, Frelimo will amend the Constitution. The approval on Wednesday of the amendment to the Electoral Law, which reduces from 18 to 14 months the deadline for announcing the date of the 2024 general elections has removed all doubts and confirmed what the CIP Elections Bulletin had already announced: there will be no district elections in 2024.
Up until the beginning of this Wednesday’s plenary session of the Assembly of the Republic, the Frelimo proposal was to reduce the deadline for announcing the date of general elections by three months. But on the same day, after the opinion of the Fourth Commission for the second reading of the Frelimo bill, an extra month was added (see link). The 4th Commission remitted the document to the secretariat at 13.37 for appreciation and approval in the second reading (Report of the 4th Commission).
Frelimo wants to force approval of the Electoral Law and Renamo demonstrates in parliament
Bulletin Nº. 47 | 29th March 2023
A Frelimo passed, on Wednesday morning, despite a demonstration by the Renamo parliamentary group, an amendment to the Electoral Law, which reduces from 18 to 14 months the deadline for fixing the date of the general.
Renamo has been demonstrating, inside the parliamentary building, since early on Wednesday against the alleged political orientation of the Frelimo leadership for the unilateral approval of the amended Electoral Law.
According to the Renamo group, Frelimo appeared, in this Wednesday’s session, with a bill “identical” to that which Renamo presented in February, which was promptly rejected by Frelimo on the Assembly’s Standing Commission.
Mocimboa da Praia still has no registration plan and CNE shifts the problem to the Government
Bulletin Nº. 46 | 29th March 2023
There is still no plan on how to hold voter registration in Mocimboa da Praia, partly because the CNE itself is divided. The chairperson of the National Elections Commission, at a meeting in Maputo with civil society organisations on Tuesday said the matter is in the government’s hands. That is, it is a political matter where the decision is not up to the body that he chairs.
Within the CNE there is no consensus about holding elections in Mocimboa da Praia. Renamo argues that the municipality of Mocimboa da Praia should be excluded from these municipal elections because it has been depopulated and lacks the necessary security and infrastructure conditions, but one wing of the CNE argues the opposite: the conditions exist, but it is up to the Government to decide.
CNE extends for 10 days deadline for requesting accreditation for monitors of political parties
Bulletin Nº. 45 | 27th March 2023
The political parties, coalitions and groups of citizens have an extra 10 days to submit their requests for accreditation of their monitors to observe the voter registration for this year’s municipal elections.
The Law gives this deadline as 30 days before the start of the registration, but the deadline was not met because of the government’s delays in disbursing money and in approving fundamental instruments such as the territorial demarcation of the new municipalities.
The new deadline has been in force since 24 March, and expires next Sunday, 2 April. It was approved after a meeting held on 20 March, at which the electoral administration and management bodies met with the political parties in Maputo.
Frelimo replaces Assistant General Director of STAE
Bulletin Nº. 44 | 27th March 2023
Finally Frelimo has found the man who will serve as a counter-weight to the unwanted Loló Correia, placed in the position by members of the opposition with the support of some discontented Frelimo members who defied their party. He is Lourenço Chiluvane, and he is currently a staff member at STAE-central.
Frelimo’s first option to replace Agostinho Levieque was José Grachane, but this was blocked (Bulletin 17) by the members of the CNE after systematic legal processes to oppose and challenge the swearing into office of the recently elected General Director of STAE, Loló Correia. Grachane forwarded two appeals, the fist to the chirperson of the CNE, Dom Carlos Matsinhe (Bulletin 5), and the second to the Maputo City Administrative Tribunal (Bulletins 6 and 15).
Sneaking out a new electoral calendar
Bulletin Nº. 43 | 24th March 2023
A revised electoral calendar was approved on 8 March by the National Elections Commission (CNE). Although it has been published in the official Boletim da República, it was only distributed to the press on Monday (20 March), and the CNE website is off line for reconstruction for many months. The three main parties which are members of the CNE have the calendar, but most civil society, small parties and citizens list do not.
The calendar also make clear that citizens lists, which can play a major role in municipal assemblies, must move quickly, because they must register first with the Ministry of Justice which can take up to two months.
The full calendar is on https://bit.ly/CIP-El-Cal and our simplified calendar is below.
CNE proposes general elections for 9 October 2024
Bulletin Nº. 42 | 23th March 2023
For this to happen, the President of the Republic should, on the proposal of the National Elections Commission (CNE), publish by 8 April the decree that fixes 9 October next year as the date for holding the presidential and parliamentary elections, and the elections of the members of the Provincial Assemblies and of the provincial governor.
The CNE’s proposal does not include district elections, since holding those elections depends on approving separate legislation. Last February, the Standing Commission of the Assembly of the Republic, with a majority consisting of Frelimo members, voted to withraw from the parliamentary agenda the proposals submitted by Renamo about the legislative framework for the district elections
Imbroglio in the debate on the proposal to amend the Electoral Law
The Renamo parliamentary group has requested a postponement in debating the Frelimo proposal to reduce from 18 to 15 months the deadline for fixing the date of the general elections. Renamo justifies its request on the grounds that it needs “to undertake the due and pertinent consultations” about the matter.
As we have learnt, the Renamo parliamentary group understood the master stroke of Frelimo in proposing a reduction in the deadline to allow the date of the 2024 elections to be announced by 14 July. This would allow Frelimo, as from 13 June this year, to approve constitutional amendments unilaterally, without needing votes from the opposition.
Deadlines for requests for accreditation of monitors have expired, but the CNE will continue to receive them, even beyond the deadline
Bulletin Nº. 41 | 22th March 2023
Legally, the deadline for presenting requests for accreditation of monitors to observe the voter registration expired yesterday (21/03), but the political parties can still request accreditation, even beyond the deadline envisaged by the law.
In the meeting with political parties held on Monday (20/03), the representative of the MDM again presented concern at the lack of territorial demarcation of the boundaries of the new municipalities, which is preventing the political parties from defining the number of monitors to be accredited. As a solution, the National Elections Commission (CNE) decided to continue receiving requests for accreditation for the political party monitors, without observing the legal deadlines laid down in the law. This process will run simultaneously with the accreditation of monitors by the CNE’s local support bodies in the districts and cities, which should end three days (16 April) before the start of voter registration (20 April).
Pilot registration did not reach 50% of the voters envisaged
In the south of the country, only 25% of the potential voters were registered during the 20 days of registration. Manica managed to surpass 50%. In Nampula the figure was 48%.
District elections
Frelimo Group proposes altering deadline for announcing date of the 2024 elections
Bulletin Nº. 40 | 21th March 2023
The general elections should be held in October 2024. The date should be announced by 15 April. However, the Frelimo parliamentary group is proposing to postpone this date to 15 July because of the polemic over the district elections.
This idea seeks to allow more time for the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, to set up the Commission which he promised on 19 December last year to discuss the viability of the district elections. Three months have passed and the commission has not yet been formed.
Master stroke by Frelimo?
The proposal to amend the Law for the Election of the President of the Republic and of the parliamentary deputies allows Frelimo to gain time until it is legally possible to change the Constitution without needing the support of the opposition.
The Constitution can only be amended five years after the previous amendment came into force (article 301 of the Constitution of the Republic). The last constitutional amendment has been in effect since 12 June 2018. This means that Frelimo can only change the Constitution, resorting to a majority of two thirds of the deputies, without needing any support from the opposition, after 12 June this year.
CNE and election observation consortium drawing up MoU
Bulletin Nº. 39 | 10th March 2023
The "More Integrity" election observation consortium and the CNE agreed at a meeting Friday (10 March) to the drawing up of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which could be signed in the coming days.
It was agreed that the consortium will present a draft memorandum, indicating the areas of interest of the two parties for the municipal and general elections of 2023 and 2024, respectively. The chair of the National Elections Commission (CNE), Dom Carlos Matsinhe, indicated the institution’s Commission of Internal and External Relations to follow up the matter.
The idea of an MoU was proposed by the consortium and it was promptly accepted by the CNE which regards it as an important aspect in the relationship between the election administration and management bodies and the More Integrity (Mais Integridade) consortium formed by six civil society organisations. "More Integrity" is led by the Public Integrity Centre (CIP, Centro de Integridade Pública). Other members are: Civil Society Learning and Capacity Building Centre (CESC, Centro de Aprendizagem e Capacitação da Sociedade Civil), the Forum of Mozambican Associations of People with Disabilities (FAMOD, Fórum das Associações Moçambicanas de Pessoas com Deficiência), the Nucleus of Women's Associations of Zambezia (NAFEZA, Núcleo das Associações Femininas da Zambézia); Solidarity (SoldMoz, Solidariedade Moçambique), and the Episcopal Justice and Peace Commission (CEJP, Comissão Episcopal Justiça e Paz) of the Catholic Church.
2023 municipal elections: STAE and CNE still have no money
Bulletin Nº. 38 | 09th March 2023
STAE and the CNE do not have the money for the voter registration, which begins in 40 days, because the government gave them a dud cheque, without the money to cover it in the bank. The government informed the CNE in late January that six billion meticais are available for the elections. But it so happens that the amount is in the system virtually (as an accounting sum) but in real terms (sum available) it still does not exist in a form that can be used. The electoral bodies are now facing difficulty in operating the election machinery. And the supplier of equipment has not yet been paid for the materials that have arrived in Maputo.
CNE and STAE have not yet received the territorial demarcations of the new municipalities
A few days from the start of voter registration, the Government has not yet sent to the electoral administration and management bodies the territorial demarcations of the 12 new municipalities since these have not yet been approved by the Council of Ministers. This is preventing the electoral bodies and the political parties from better planning their operations.
District elections: Ossufo Momade resigned?
Bulletin Nº. 37 | 08th March 2023
Renamo seems to have accepted the decision of Frelimo to cancel the holding of district elections in 2024. According to Ossufo Momade, Renamo “has no answer to give”, but it was his desire that the elections be held next year.
Ossufo Momade says that Renamo regrets that the postponement of the district elections had been presented “very late”. Momade recalled that the elections are the result of agreements in 2019 between Renamo and the Government.
Ossufo Momade reacted to the cancelling of the elections after the meeting he held with the President of the Republic, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, in the context of the Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) of former Renamo guerrillas.
As for the next step to be taken, the leader of the largest opposition party said “Right now, we have no answer to give with regard to the district elections.”
Accessories for Mobiles for voter registration are now in Maputo
The equipment was unloaded on Monday (6/3/2023). It consisted of 108 tonnes of accessories for the computers that will be used for the voter registration that begins on 20 April. The accessories came from Hong Kong.
The material unloaded on Monday morning, consisting of batteries, power banks (auxiliary chargers), PVC cards, including some Mobile ID kits, among others, amounts to 20% of the total equipment to be imported for the registration. Mobile IDs are the computers that will be used for voter registration. In the structure of these computers will be included the power banks to increase their autonomy, which will reduce the need to take them to charging points (points with access to electricity) thus avoiding interruptions in the registration of voters.
Frelimo has already decided: there will be no district elections in 2024
Bulletin Nº. 36 | 02nd March 2023
The Frelimo parliamentary group believes that holding the district elections in 2024 would be inopportune, according to the daily paper “Noticias” (28/02), citing the head of the Frelimo group, Sérgio Pantie. The next step will be submitting to parliament a proposal for a specific amendment to the Constitution of the Republic.
The district elections are part of an agreement between the late leader of Renamo, Afonso Dhlakama, and the President of the Republic, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, seeking to put an end to the resurgence of clashes in the centre of the country. At this time, the constitution was amended to accommodate the demand for these elections.
Afonso Dhlakama has died, the Renamo guerrillas have been demobilized, and the government has abandoned the agreement.
Pilot voter registration: those registered wrongly believe they have voter cards
Bulletin Nº. 35 | 01st March 2023
Voters in the districts monitored by CIP believed that they were receiving genuine voter cards whereas in fact the pilot registration was only intended to test the machines, and the cards the voters received have no use. STAE may not have made it clear that they were only participating in testing the equipment, and that they will still have to register again.
Of the 39 people interviewed by our correspondents, 38 believed that the card they received was a voter card. Just one voter, in Magude, said that the purpose of the pilot registration was to test the machines that will be used for voter registration in April this year, and that the voter card is useless. The 38 interviewees gave answers that showed total lack of knowledge about the objective of the pilot registration.
The most common answers were: a) the registration is to obtain the voter card in order to vote next year; the voter card is to be used in the voting in 2024; and the card is a document that replaces the identity card, among others.
District elections 2024: time beginning to run out
Bulletin Nº. 34 | 28th February 2023
By 15 April, the government should announce the date of the 2024 presidential, parliamentary, provincial and district elections. However, there is still a great deal to be done: debating the viability of the district elections and drawing up a bill on the elections and the district governments, and a clear definition of the districts to accommodate them.
The electoral legislation stipulates that the date of the elections (presidential, parliamentary and provincial) is fixed at least 18 months in advance, and that they are held by the first fortnight of October in each election year. This means that, if the elections are held on 15 October, the government must fix this date by 15 April this year. And by 15 April 2024, six months before the elections, it must set the date for voter registration.
The possible hypotheses on why the government hesitates to go ahead with the district elections
The President of the Republic promised to set up a multi-sector commission for a public consultation seeking to assess the pertinence and viability of the district elections. Two months have passed and the commission has not yet been established. Not even the terms of reference of the debate are known. What is the Government afraid of?
The Standing Commission of the Assembly of the Republic withdrew the bills submitted by Renamo from the agenda for the parliamentary sitting that began last week. At official level, there is no information about why the Government hesitates in advancing to these elections, even though the Constitution demands that district elections be held.
Would new elected districts look like municipalities or provinces?
Bulletin Nº. 33 | 27th February 2023
Would elected districts have any power? Municipalities have the power to set their own plan and budget, can collect taxes, and can issue local regulations known as "posturas". Provinces have none of those powers. They simply administer plans and budgets set by central government in Maputo, with money provided by Maputo.
In Mozambican administrative jargon, municipalities have "decentralised" power, whereas provinces only have "deconcentrated" administrative authority. Decentralization involves a real transfer of power to local voters and officials. Deconcentration only involves transfer to local level of the administration of instructions from above. Provincial governors may be elected, but they are still carrying out instructions from Maputo, while elected municipal mayors have real power.
Crowds on the last day of the pilot voter registration
Bulletin Nº. 32 | 20th February 2023
The last day of the pilot registration is being marked by crowds in all six districts that CIP is covering. Up until today (20 February) the registration has been proceeding calmly.
In Meconta district, in Nampula province, today “there is a large crowd of voters registering”. The machines are fully operational, without any record of breakdowns. The operators are showing great flexibility.
Director orders a block on information in Matutuine
The STAE district director in Matutuine has banned brigade members from sharing information about the pilot registration with the CIP correspondents, on the rounds that “they might give the wrong information”. CIP’s “Bulletin on the Political Process in Mozambique: Elections 2023/2024” is the only one of the Mozambican media covering the pilot registration.
Opposition wants district elections held in 2024
Bulletin Nº. 31 | 16th February 2023
Opposition parties argued in Maputo on Wednesday (15/02) that the district elections should be held in 2024. For Renamo, it makes no sense to discuss delaying the elections, since they are the result of consensus in the peace agreement reached between Filipe Nyusi and Afonso Dhlakama.
Pilot voter registration: rain prevents voters from registering
In the last two days, the pilot registration posts in Mogovolas district, in Nampula province, have been unable to register voters due to the heavy rains in the area.
Size of the new municipalities varies between 50 and 150 km²
Bulletin Nº. 30 | 14th February 2023
The boundaries and technical description of the limits of the 12 new municipalities will be delivered to the Council of Ministers between this week and next week. The Ministry of State Administration and the Public Service says it has already concluded the process.
According to Alexandre Uisse, the national director of Territorial Organisation in the Ministry of State Administration and the Public Service, a multi-sector team involving technical staff from the Ministry, administrative authorities and local leaderships, was on the ground for about a month to survey the areas, and establish limits and the characteristics of each area subject to delimitation.
According to a note from STAE, the technical work has already been completed on the ground and follows the phase of sharing the report with the provinces before being analysed at Government level. On the ground the areas were defined, and the limits established. The preliminary results of these delimitations point to sizes that vary from 50 to 150 square kilometres.
Pilot registration: voters told to come back tomorrow because of crowds in Mogovolas
The voter registration post located in the secondary school in Nametil, the capital of Mogovolas district, recorded the greatest crowd of voters since the start of the registration. Some of these voters were told to come back early tomorrow.
According to our correspondents, today only those who had tickets in their hands stayed. The crowd is explained by the fact that the date for the end of the registration is approaching.
In the other parts of the country where voter registration is taking place, it is happening without problems – with the exception of a problem with the system last Sunday, in Meconta, but it was quickly solved.
In Meconta there are no queues because of the rain, and attendance is very quick: registering one voter takes 5 minutes.
Frelimo makes district elections unlikely in 2024
Bulletin Nº. 29 | 12th February 2023
Frelimo has withdrawn the draft legislation proposed by Renamo which is indispensable for
holding district elections next year. These are imposed by the Constitution, resulting from the
peace agreement of 2019. Renamo presented bills on the elections for discussion at the next sitting of the Assembly of the Republic, but the Standing Commission of the Assembly withdrew them from the agenda. The decision by the Standing Commission makes it more unlikely that the district elections will be
held next year.
Renamo believes that removing this matter from the agenda is “in compliance with the instructions of (President) Nyusi"; and it will only happen because “they are the majority” on the Standing Commission.
Pilot Registration: poor turnout due to rain in the south, but crowds in the north
The torrential rain and flooding that have hit Maputo city and province have prevented voters
from making their way to the voter registration brigades. But in the north, crowds are continuing.
Pilot registration: slowness marks the last few days
In the last few days, our correspondents in Magude, Mogovolas and Murrupula report some
slowness in registering voters. In the initial days, it took between 3 and 5 minutes to register a
voter.
Election commissions in the 12 new municipalities controlled by Frelimo
Bulletin Nº. 28 | 09 th February 2023
The municipal electoral commissions have the same proportion of members as parliament, meaning that Frelimo dominates the commissions in the 12 new municipalities announced yesterday (8 Feb).
The political parties nominate six members (3 for Frelimo, 2 for Renamo and 1 for MDM) and 9 come from civil society. But the political parties have an agreement, not in the law, that in the same proportion, parties can choose people from civil society organisations linked to their party. Thus these commission members are not really representing civil society.
Under this agreement, Frelimo had the right to coopt five or six members of the district commissions from civil society. Most of these candidates were supported by the National Teachers’ Organisation (ONP), the Christian Council of Mozambique, and some minor religious groupings. These are organisations that have traditionally been controlled by the Frelimo Party.
Pilot registration: large crowds continue in Murrupula and Meconta
The pilot registration posts set up in the Murrupula-sede Secondary School and in Meconta-sede, in the districts of the same names, in Nampula, are recording large crowds of potential voters every day.
In Murrupula, the crowds are caused by the slowness of the brigade members. There are only two people registering the voters and, on average, one person is attended every 8 to 10 minutes, which is unlike the other registration posts in six of the nine districts we are monitoring. The average of the other registration posts varies between three and five minutes.
Due to the slowness, in Murrupula, at the end of the day, the voters who did not manage to register are given tickets for the following day.
Pilot registration: small problems in Matutuine and Moamba
Bulletin Nº. 27 | 06th February 2023
The pilot voter registration is continuing to run without upsets. With correspondents in six of the nine districts, the Bulletin has observed that the equipment used in the past elections is still fully functional, with just some minor problems.
The pilot registration is voluntary. It is not the real registration, and it seeks to test the equipment from the previous elections (2018/2019) that will be used in the full voter registration in April. Our correspondents report a high turnout of people volunteering to test the equipment.
Pilot voter registration without serious problems
Bulletin Nº. 26 | 02nd February 2023
There were no serious problems reported on the first day of the pilot voter registration, at least in the six Nampula and Maputo districts, except for Moamba where the machine was unable to take photographs of just two voters.
Our correspondents report that the registration began on time at 08.00 in all the brigades, and that there was a considerable turnout. The operators showed mastery in using the T-mobile computers, and took between three and five minutes to conclude the registration of each voter.
STAE and CNE still do not know the territorial boundaries of the 12 new municipalities
Bulletin Nº. 25 | 01st February 2023
The political parties and the electoral administration bodies still do not know the territorial boundaries of the 12 new municipalities. Zauria Amisse, the representative of the Government on the CNE, says that the municipal limits have been defined, and are only awaiting approval by the Council of Ministers.
The Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE) said yesterday, during a meeting with the political parties in Maputo, that it still has no idea of the size of the municipalities. According to STAE, so far the size of the new municipalities is not known, adding that the territorial boundaries “are matters for MAEFP (Ministry of State Administration and Public Service)” .
CNE still does not know how much money it will have for municipal elections
Bulletin Nº. 24 | 26th January 2023
The Government has not yet informed the CNE how much money it will make available for electoral expenditure such as the acquisition of voting material, transport, and hiring polling station staff. This could make planning difficult.
The Government has already made available the budget for current expenditure, such as the payment of wages to the staff of the electoral administration bodies, office rent, water and electricity bills, among other expenses. But the elections have additional costs, namely the printing of ballot papers, transport, the hiring of members of the polling stations, among other services. To date, nobody knows how much money the Government will provide for these costs.
Why is it that Manica has a larger electoral budget?
Bulletin Nº. 23 | 22th January 2023
Manica province has the largest election budget. It is three times larger than the budget for Gaza, Nampula and Cabo Delgado; four times larger than the budget for Maputo and five times larger than that for Inhambane. Nobody is able to explain why.
It is also twice as large as the budget for the National Elections Commission (CNE) at central level (47.5 million meticais). A source in the CNE suspects that the provincial government may have given additional weight to the argument that Manica is the only province in the country where the electoral administration bodies at all levels operate without interruption every year. In the other provinces, these bodies only operate during election periods. This is just one possible explanation, since even the members of the CNE do not understand the reasons.
Tight calendar in the tender for selection of members of the 12 new Elections Commissions
Bulletin Nº. 22 | 18th January 2023
This week (on 16 January) the public tender was launched for selecting the members of the Elections Commissions of the country’s 12 new municipalities. The closing date for the tender is next Monday (23 January).
Civil Society has less than a week to submit nomination papers for candidates to those support bodies in the 12 districts. The tender deadlines are very tight, and could limit the number of candidates from independent civil society organisations. This would facilitate the nomination of candidates and selection of socio-professional bodies such as the ONP and others, which are controlled by the Frelimo Party.
Tight deadlines for candidates could cause problems for citizens' lists
Bulletin Nº. 21 | 17th January 2023
Small parties and citizens' lists are put at a disadvantage by the electoral law changes made by parliament on 23 December. Candidates lists must be submitted 60 days before the elections. Each list must have as many candidates as there are seats in the municipal assembly plus at least three supplementaries (suplentes) and each candidate must have five documents which are not always easy to obtain.
Government will announce voter registration date by Wednesday
Bulletin Nº. 20 | 15th January 2023
Voter registration will begin on 20 April. The Council of Ministers will approve on Tuesday (17 January) the new registration date which should be announced by the following day.
Law No. 5/2013 states that the voter registration period should be anniunced up to 60 days before it begins, which mans that the government has until 18 January to do so.
According to the electoral calendar approved last Thursday, at an ordinary meeting of the National Elections Commission (CNE), the voter registration, lasting for 45 days, should begin on 20 April and end on 3 June of this year, as we had stated in previous editions of this Bulletin.
AR and CNE go on holiday with key issues unresolved
Bulletin Nº. 19 | 18th December 2022
Registration will start in April but no date has been set, and confusion about candidates lists continue, as parliament (AR) and the National Elections Commission (CNE) go on holiday. The AR approved law changes Thursday (15 Dec), and CNE announced its responses Friday (16 Dec).
AR should not squeeze small parties and citizens' lists
CIP OPINION | 14th December 2022
In a parliament (AR) debate tomorrow, it is proposed that small parties and citizens' lists pay the price for delays to the electoral registration. The law is already very strict. Lists of candidates must include enough people to fill all municipal assembly seats, plus a few supplementary candidates And each candidate must present a notarised copy of their identify car, a notarised copy of the their voters card, and an official copy of their criminal record. In smaller municipalities, it is difficult to obtain these in just a few days.
CIP Elections Opinion - 14 December 2022
CNE proposes reduction by 90 days, and elimination of deadlines to divulge number of seats
Bulletin Nº. 18 | 13th December 2022
The proposal to amend the Electoral Law will be debated and approved this week. An important change is that the number of seats in the municipal assemblies is based on the number of registered voters, but the CNE is proposing the use of the data of 2018 rather than 2023.
The CNE is proposing to the Government a specific amendment to the Electoral Law, reducing the time preceding the period for presenting candidates from 120 to 60 days (article 18 of Law No. 7/2018, of 3 August, altered and republished by Law No. 14/2018, of 18 December).
In the same proposal, the CNE suggests (1) a reduction in the time to publish the definitive maps of the polling stations (Article 54, paragraph 4), and (2) the time to deliver the electoral registers to the candidates (Article 54, paragraph 5) from the current 45 days to 30 days. Through this alteration, the CNE manages to gain a further 30 days. Taken with the earlier 60 days, this gives a total reduction of 90 days.
CNE members block appointment of Grachane
Bulletin Nº. 17 | 11th December 2022
Members of the CNE have blocked José Grachane, on the grounds that they would not be able to share a working environment with someone who fought against them, and who still has an appeal awaiting a decision from the Administrative Tribunal (TA).
Some CNE members say that the appointment of Grachane by Frelimo, following the attempts to impose a General Director of STAE, is clear evidence that the Party wants the STAE leadership not to be independent, but to be controlled by Frelimo.
Everything indicates that Frelimo will give up insisting on Grachane, but by Friday the party had not yet gone to collect the note rejecting Grachane by the members of the CNE. We have learnt that the President of Frelimo, Filipe Nyusi, was put on the sidelines of these changes, and did not like the fact that he was not consulted.
Air transport will add further costs of 320 million meticais for the CNE
Bulletin Nº. 16 | 08th December 2022
Voter registration will begin on 20 April, if the Government accepts the additional cost of 320 million meticais for air transport to bring equipment and material from Hong Kong and from France, as proposed by the CNE.
The Artes Gráficas – Lexton consortium presented last week in Maputo the proposal for transporting the election material by air (option B) and not by sea. The initial proposal envisaged transporting the material in three aircraft, but this could prove very expensive for the State: 448 million meticais, the equivalent of 7 million dollars. The State might not be willing to pay these sums. The consortium had to renegotiate with the company that will transport the equipment to Maputo. Hence, an agreement was reached that it would be possible to transport the material in two aircraft, at a total cost of 320 million meticais (5 million dollars).
End of the story: Grachane chosen by Frelimo for post of assistant director of STAE
Bulletin Nº. 15 | 07th December 2022
The Frelimo Party has chosen José Grachane for the post of assistant general director of STAE. The note on his appointment entered the office of the CNE chairperson yesterday, and today he will be presented at a plenary session.
José Grachane replaces, with immediate effect, Agostinho Leviaque who had occupied the position for a long time. Agostinho Leviaque was regarded as weak in defending the interests of the party, particularly in the conflict over the election of the new director of the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat - STAE.
Grachane is seen by Frelimo as “a strong man” to “control the situation” in STAE and serve as a counterbalance to Loló Correia. Grachane systematically undermined Correia’s election and taking of office, through an appeal to the Maputo City Administrative Tribunal.
Elections business: CNE/STAE made awards without tenders worth 8.1 billion meticais to the Artes Gráficas – Laxton consortium
Bulletin Nº. 14 | 27th November 2022
The consortium was the only body invited by STAE to present a bid to supply Mobile IDs, services to improve the computer application, to maintain and supply mobile ID accessories and printed material for the 2023/2024 Voter Registration, including the 2022 pilot registration.
The total value of the contract awarded, without any public tender, is 8,121,897,991 Meticais (eight billion, one hundred and twenty one million, eight hundred and ninety seven thousand, nine hundred and ninety one meticais), equivalent to 128 million dollars. It involves two packages.
New municipalities cost 105 million meticais
Bulletin Nº. 13 | 23th November 2022
The establishment of new municipalities will have a budgetary impact of 105.5 million meticais. The information is contained in the draft Law for the Creation of Local Authorities, submitted to parliament last week.
It is not clear whether or not the cost includes the amount that the state will allocate for financing the municipal elections in the 12 new municipalities, of which 10 are villages and two towns.
What can be revised in the Electoral Law to correct the problem caused by the delay in the disbursement of funds by the Government?
Bulletin Nº. 12 | 20th November 2022
The phase of filing candidacies could be shortened, but without tinkering with the other phases of the electoral process, such as voter registration, the electoral campaign and voting day, as happened in 2018.
For the 10 October 2018 local elections, the National Elections Commission (CNE) approved four addenda to change the phases of the electoral process, without changing the election date. It decided to change the date of voter registration, initially scheduled for 1st March to 29th April, from 19th March to 17th May. The change in the starting date of voter registration had to do with the need to hold mid-term elections in Nampula, after the assassination of the local mayor, Mahamud Amurane, in October 2017. At the organizational level everything was ready.
Proposal to change census dates already submitted to the Government
Bulletin Nº. 11 | 13th November 2022
The postponement of voter registration and a punctual review of the Electoral Law seem inevitable, but it all depends on the Government. The National Electoral Commission (CNE) has already submitted the proposal, the solution to which may involve revising the deadlines for the phases of the electoral process. October 11 will remain untouched.
In the CNE argumentation, prepared by STAE (Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration) technicians, two scenarios were presented about the impracticality of conducting voter registration on 20 February (two months from now). The first scenario is that February is a rainy season. Holding registration in this period would violate the electoral legislation and the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Council, which state that electoral events must be held in dry times.
What led to the choice of the new municipalities?
Bulletin Nº. 10 | 30th October 2022
The 12 new municipalities proposed by the Government are characterized by low levels of revenue collection. The administrative post of Matola-Rio, in Boane, has the highest revenue generation capacity, with the largest population.
The choice of new villages and administrative post headquarters for municipality upgrading of delegations was based on three key indicators: i) capacity to collect own revenues, ii) population density and iii) size of the municipal area. The town of Ibo in Cabo Delgado is the smallest in terms of territorial size (11.7 km2) and the one with the lowest revenue collection capacity, although in terms of population density it is the third (27,086 inhabitants), after Vila de Insaca in Mecanhelas district, with 16,395 inhabitants and Homoine in Inhambane, with 16,747 inhabitants. The town of Caia, in Sofala, is the one with the largest territorial size, 231.8km². There are 38,047 inhabitants.
12 new municipalities announced
Bulletin Nº. 9 | 19th October 2022
The will be elections in 12 more municipalities, bringing the total to 65, the Council of Ministers
decided today (18 October). The new municipalities are
Maputo Province – Matola-Rio; Marracuene
Gaza – Massingir-Sede
Inhambane – Homoine-Sede
Sofala – Caia-Sede
Manica – Guro-Sede
Tete – Chitima-Sede
Zambézia – Morrumbala-Sede
Nampula - Mossuril
Niassa – Mecanhelas-Sede
Cabo Delgado – Ibo, Balama-Sede
Moz_Elections_09-18Oct22_12-new-municipalities
CNE going to parliament to delay registration
Bulletin Nº. 8 | 17th October 2022
Delays in ordering registration materials will force a postponement of registration which violates the
electoral law. So the CNE will go to the Council of Ministers this week to ask it to go to parliament
to change the law.
Municipal elections will be on 11 October 2023 and the law requires that by 14 April 2023 the CNE
announce the number of seats in each municipal assembly. Registration was to start on 20
February and end 5 April, leaving 10 days to meet the 14 April deadline.
The number of registered voters determines the number of assembly seats, and parties and
citizens' lists must stand a full list - candidates for all seats plus at least three alternates. Parties
have just 60 days after 14 April to submit their lists of candidates. The long time is needed because
each candidate must provide a certificate of no criminal record plus certified copies of an identity
card and voters card, which in small municipalities are slow to obtain.
The current laws require the number of seats to be announced 180 days before the election and
candidates to be submitted by 120 days before election.
Court rejects STAE DG challenge ending a 5-week soap opera
Bulletin Nº. 7 | 16th October 2022
The Administrative Tribunal (TA) rejected the final attempt to block the naming of Loló Correia as
STAE director general. The ruling came late Friday afternoon (14 Oct), after the CNE had already
sworn in Correia earlier in the day.
The ruling and swearing in ceremony brings to an end a five-week soap opera. The post is critical
because STAE (Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration) runs the elections and the
director-general (DG) has huge power. The was an open competition for internal candidates and a
selection panel of members of the CNE (National Elections Commission) chose Correia, who was
then head of STAE in Tete province.
Insiders claimed that Frelimo did not want Correia, and instead wanted someone who would be
more malleable, and pressured Frelimo members on the CNE to reject the panel choice. But
democracy and independence prevailed, and at least two members seen as Frelimo-aligned
repeatedly backed the selection panel choice.
Moz_Elections_07-16Oct22_DG-soap-ends
CNE cites "public interest" to install STAE's Director-General on Friday
Bulletin Nº. 6 | 12th October 2022
In the fifth episode of the soap opera, a rejected candidate for STAE Director-General appealed to the Administrative Court (AT), which prevented the selected candidate from being sworn in as scheduled on 7 October. The CNE filed a counter-argument with the same court and will proceed with the inauguration Friday 14 October.
Loló Correia should have been sworn in last Friday 7 October, but this was not possible due to logistical issues. On the same Friday, the CNE met in an ordinary session and scheduled the swearing in for today, Wednesday 12 October. However, in the late afternoon after the CNE meeting, the President of CNE received an order from the Administrative Court of Maputo (TACM) suspending the inauguration of the new Director General (DG) of STAE. In the order dated 3 October, TACM judge José Ibraimo Abudo Junior, ordered the CNE to refrain from swearing in Loló Correia, and gave the CNE five days to respond.
Moz_Elections M6 12Oct22 DG STAE again
Registration will be postponed to April or June 2023
Bulletin Nº. 5 | 05th October 2022
The postponement of voter registration is inevitable. The consortium which won the public tender
to provide electoral material recently told the CNE it will only be possible to start registration on 20
April or 20 June 2023. The government had decided that it would start on 20 February, which is
now impossible.
The government has so far neither made the money available nor signed the contract for the
supply of census equipment and materials. Academica, the Mozambican company that won the
contract, will only be able to import equipment and materials into Mozambique in time to start
registrations on April 20 if air freight is used. But if the option is sea freight, which is cheaper, the
equipment will take another eight weeks and voter registration will only start on 20 June.
The Dutch company subcontracted by Académica has experience of such operations in Africa,
where it already works in Malawi and Ghana. According to a STAE source, the other important
aspect is that this consortium does not depend on government disbursements to begin the process
of producing the material.
Moz_Elections_05-5Oct2022_registration-delay_STAE-DG-confirmed
Better prepared opposition delegates highlighted by journalists in Angola
Bulletin Nº. 4 | 28th September 2022
Angolan opposition party delegates were much better trained than their equivalent in Mozambique - and it made a difference - concluded Mozambique journalists who reported on the 24 August election there. In sharp contrast to Mozambique, Angolan party delegates in polling stations knew how to watch and what to look for, and Unita complaints were well prepared and submitted on time.
In Mozambique, each party has the right to a delegate in the polling station (assembleia de voto) during the voting and during the counting process. But in past elections, delegates of Renamo and smaller opposition parties had little or no training and had little idea how to watch and what type of improper actions they were looking for. Renamo delegates have signed as correct final results sheets (editais) which were manifestly false - for example claiming 100% turnout when it was clear to everyone that few people had voted.
Similarly, opposition complaints are often poorly written and incorrect, and submitted too late. Can the Mozambican opposition follow the Unita example, and select delegates early and provide serious training?
Frelimo again blocks STAE director-general
Bulletin Nº. 3 | 28th September 2022
The swearing-in ceremony of the new director-general of STAE, due to take place on Wednesday 21 September, was blocked by Frelimo, which opposes the CNE's choice of Loló Correia. Yet another political manoeuvre forced the postponement of an already announced public event at the Joaquim Chissano Conference Centre, with invitations issued and agenda approved.
Correia had been selected as director-general of STAE (Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat) by a selection panel of members of the CNE (National Electoral Commission). The Frelimo party leadership opposed his selection and directed its members in CNE to vote instead for Helena Garrine, who had come bottom of the selection panel rating.
Democracy prevailed. Three of the 10 members of CNE representing Frelimo went against their party's orientation and voted in favour of Correia, who already had the support of seven opposition members. Correia won the election 10-7. With an swearing-in with full pomp and ceremony already announced, Frelimo intervened again. This time it is aiming to annul the selection and force the launch of a new recruitment process.
Frelimo tried dirty tricks and fought to last minute to impose STAE head
Bulletin Nº. 2 | 14th September 2022
Heavy pressure and attempted dirty tricks by Frelimo bosses to impose their choice of director general (DG) of STAE backfired, leading to a rebellion of three Frelimo-aligned members of the CNE at an all-day meeting last Thursday (8 September). Loló Correia, head of STAE in Tete and the choice of the selection committee, was elected 10-7, over the central Frelimo party choice Helena Garrine, who had come last on the selection committee list.
STAE (State Secretariat for Election Administration, Secretariado Técnico de Administração Eleitoral) runs the elections and the DG post is the most powerful in the electoral system. The Comissão Nacional de Eleições (CNE) has a normal 10-7 Frelimo majority, but the final total shows 3 members voted against Frelimo instructions in a secret ballot.
Two dirty tricks were rejected. Frelimo wanted the CNE votes to be hand written. This was used last year when the CNE voted to replace spokesperson Paulo Cuinica with Alice Banze. Those who voted for Banze were identified by their handwriting.
The last try was an unexpected Frelimo proposal that the official notification of Correia's election in Boletim da República (BR) should say that Garrine was next in line to replace Correia. This would have allowed later Frelimo pressure to force Correia to resign to be automatically replaced by Garrine.
Moz_Elections Mun 02 -14Sept2022
Frelimo blocks new STAE head proposed by selection panel; CNE debate resumes tomorrow
Bulletin Nº. 1 | 07th September 2022
The choice of the new Director General of STAE was postponed until tomorrow (Thursday 8 September) by the CNE, as Frelimo blocked the candidate chosen by the selection panel. The post has huge power because STAE runs the elections, and has been blamed for fraud and misconduct in the past.
Felisberto Naife resigned in March after 15 years as head of STAE (Secretariado Técnico de Administração Eleitoral, Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration). The post was advertised and a selection panel of five members of the CNE (Comissão Nacional de Eleições, National Elections Commission) considered seven candidates. Top of the list was Loló Correia, director of STAE in Tete since 2014 - the only candidate who scored the maximum three points, and who was recommended by the panel
Mozambique_Elections Mun 1 - 7 Sept 2022 master
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Frelimo landslide questioned
Nyusi wins 73%, Frelimo gains 184 seats in AR
General Elections 96 - 26 January 2020
Frelimo and President Filipe Nyusi swept away the opposition in the 15 October 2019 general elections, matching Armando Guebuza's 2009 landslide. But there were widespead reports of misconduct.
On a 52% turnout, Nyusi won 73% of the vote with over 50% in all provinces. Frelimo won majorities in all provincial parliaments and in the first ever election of governors, Frelimo won all ten. Read the full article
CNE & CC exclude diaspora vote, then CC secretly changes results twice
Official results announced by the CNE on 27 October and approved by the CC on 22 December excluded 144,918 presidential votes and 144,934 parliamentary (Assembleia da República, AR) votes which are included in the tables published by the CNE and CC.
To add to the confusion, the voter registration is the same in the official results and table - only the votes have been excluded. The exclusion is nowhere mentioned or justified, but analysis of the tables suggests that the CNE excluded the votes, but not the registration, of Mozambicans in the diaspora. Read the full article
Another 2nd term landslide
Filipe Nyusi won his second term as president with a landslide almost as large as Armando Guebuza's second term victory a decade ago. But, as we note in the remainder of this report, there were more reports of serious misconduct than in any previous elections. Guebuza in 2009 won 75% of the vote and Frelimo 191 seats in parliament (AR), while in 2019 Nyusi won 73% and Frelimo 184 seats. Read the full article
Frelimo wins all districts
Frelimo received the most votes in all of the 154 districts that had Provincial Assembly (Assembleia Provincial, AP) elections (there are no provincial assemblies in Maputo city and the diaspora). In 148 districts, Frelimo won more than 55% of the vote. The six where Frelimo did worst were : Read the full article
Detailed results are not public
Results from each individual polling station are compiled by STAE, but they are no longer made public. Polling-station by polling-station results for 1994 were published in thick books. Read the full article
Our election reporting
From 1994, the Mozambique Political Process Bulletin has reported all of Mozambique's multiparty elections, and for the 2019 general elections we published daily in key periods. The Bulletin has developed a system of local correspondents across the country. For the 2019 general elections we had 463 correspondents, of whom 235 worked for community radios, 76 were from civil society, and 56 were teachers. All districts in Mozambique were covered by at least two correspondents, many of whom had worked for us in previous elections, including the 2018 municipal elections. Read the full article
What went wrong?
Increased misconduct puts elections in question
“Despite the guarantees for the transparency of the electoral process, some say that our electoral processes suffer from problems. After all, where do the problems of our electoral processes lie?" asked the Constitutional Council in its ruling approving the 2019 general elections (Acórdão 25). Are the problems legal, organizational and administrative, or preparations of parties and candidates asks the CC. "Or all these elements of the system taken together? It is therefore essential to reflect on these aspects." Read the full article
Party-ization prevents neutrality
“The Constitutional Council concludes that electoral legislation has created formal mechanisms to ensure the transparency of electoral processes, opting for the partyization of the organs which supervise the electoral process, from top to bottom," says Acórdão 25. It stresses that "the declared objective of the legislators in party-izing the CNE, its supporting bodies, STAE and polling stations has been achieved." Read the full article
Observation constrained
The role of election observation is not negligible," says the CC (Acórdão 25). "Electoral observers are a mechanism that helps to increase the confidence of the national and international community in electoral processes, promoting transparency, citizen participation and the democratic conduct of elections" Read the full article
A strange kind of transparency
When the Constitutional Council (CC), the highest court in the land, can publicly ratify theelection and then a week later, change the results to give more votes to the ruling party, and then a week after that, change the results again, and do this entirely in secret, it means that Mozambique has a very unusual conception of "transparency". Read the full article
CNE above the law
The National Elections Commission (CNE) violated the law with total impunity. Four examples included party funding, the order of parties on the ballot paper, tabulation, and publication of results.
The CNE distributed $3 mn to political parties, but did not follow the electoral law. Money must be distributed 21 days before the start of the campaign, 30 August last year. But money was only distributed after the campaign began. And the CNE refused repeated requests to detail how money was allocated. In fact the allocation violated the law. Read the full article
Many lost and stolen votes
Can any numbers be trusted?
The CNE found 152,000 more votes for parliament (AR) than the district elections commissions (CDEs) reported. How, where? If anyone knows, they are not telling. Are they real, mistakes, or frauds? There is no way to know. Comparing registration figures shows that the CDEs excluded some polling stations which the CNE included, but there is no way of knowing why. Did CDEs exclude some polling stations which had unbelievably high turnout, but the CNE include them? Read the full article
The tip of the iceberg:
Half a million fraudulent votes
All of Mozambique's elections have had some fraud and sloppiness, but it was more extreme in the 2019 general elections. For example, there have always been reports of small numbers of ballot papers pre-marked for Frelimo in the hands of voters or Frelimo officials outside of polling stations - which requires the collusion of polling station staff who must illegally remove ballots from books in polling stations or at STAEs. Read the full article
Stuffing the ballot box
Ballot box "stuffing" traditionally involves putting extra ballot papers in the ballot box. But in Mozambique it more often means changing the results sheet ("edital"), in many cases adding hundreds of votes. Read the full article
Conclusion: A new kind of transparency
Mozambique's democracy has always had an unusual shape. In a show of transparency, votes are counted at the polling station in the presence of parties, observers and journalists. But the electoral laws have always allowed elections commissions and STAEs at district, provincial and national level to change the results in secret - something unheard of in other electoral democracies. In past electoral cycles, observation, parallel counts, and a sense of justice in the electoral and court system balanced the openness of the polling stations with the closed world of the elections commissions. Read the full article
CC OKs election, ignoring complaints and CNE errors
General Elections 93 - 23 December 2019
National elections were approved this morning by the Constitutional Council, exactly as submitted by the National Elections Commission, including mistakes. In particular votes for President in Africa and Europe have not been counted, and the turnout is wrong. Read the full article
2 CC Judges say vote count cannot be fair or transparent
In a "declaration of a vote" defeated by the CC majority, two judges said that the vote was free, but that it cannot be fair or transparent because of inherent failures in the counting process. The full CC ruling was read out at a ceremony this morning but the dissenting opinion was not read out or mentioned, as was missed by much of the press, although it is included in the text handed out and posted on the CC website. Read the full article
CNE errors just rubber-stamped
The CNE did not correct the CNE's error in the presidential vote and turnout, which we pointed out in Bulletin 87 (27 Oct). Read the full article
Bail refused for 17 ND observers held for 2 weeks
General Elections 89 - 4 November 2019
Bail was refused today by the Chokwe District Court in Gaza for 17 party delegates (poll watchers, party observers) and the local party agent (mandatario) of New Democracy (Novo Democracia, ND), who were arrested on polling day, 15 October.
Over 200 ND observers were expelled from polling stations by police and the STAE director on voting day for allegedly having false credentials, and the 18 were arrested, said Quiteria Guirengane, the ND's national agent. Read the full article
Frelimo captured electoral process says civil society
"The 15 October elections were not free, fair, or transparent because the ruling party captured and assaulted the electoral machine," concluded eight civil society organisations (CSOs) in a statement last week. Read the full article
Renamo and courts make a mess of Renamo appeal
In a protest to the Matola district court, Renamo alleged that the count by the Matola district elections commission gave it 34.51% of the votes for parliament (Assembleia da República) and 30.88% for provincial assembly when both should have been 35%. Read the full article
Rare Renamo victory in Moatize upheld
Renamo went to court after Moatize STAE replaced Renamo nominees on polling station staff, and its protest was upheld in the district count on 8 October. STAE district director Júlio Jossias Baulene appealed to the Constitutional Council on the grounds that he was not represented by a lawyer in the 8 October hearing. Read the full article
Few protests, and most rejected - but more caught stuffing ballot boxes
General Elections 88 - 29 October 2019
There were only 58 protests in just three provinces over the election, and nearly all of them were rejected, reported the Supreme Court today. Despite widespread complaints, opposition parties apparently made no protests in 7 of the other 8 provinces. Read The Full article
Observers report polling station misconduct
Widespread misconduct and sloppiness was reported by the independent civil society observers who participated in EISA's parallel vote tabulation (PVT).
Observation was restricted in 13% of polling stations, even for observers who had been issued credentials; 4% of polling stations did not post results sheets as required by law: and more than one-quarter of polling stations started the count improperly, opening the way for manipulation. Read the full article
Renamo challenge to Frelimo polling station heads raises legal queries
Renamo protested against the use of heads of administrative posts and of district secretaries as polling station staff (MMVs) and trainers of MMVs.
These people are often linked to Frelimo. The protest was made in a letter signed by Afonso Bulha Machone, Renamo's representative, and sent to the Moamba District Election Commission (CDE) on October 18. Read the full article
CNE published wrong election data today and lost 131,000 votes for Nyusi
General Elections 87 - 27 October 2019
The National Elections Commission today published the official results of the 15 October general elections and made a basic mistake. This does not change the Frelimo landslide, but it does change all the totals. For example, the CNE lost 131,593 votes for Nyusi. Read the full article
CNE declares huge Frelimo victory and rejects opposition protests
A sweeping victory for Frelimo and President Filipe Nyusi, which matches the victory of Armando Guebuza for his second term, was declared this afternoon by the National Elections Commission (CNE). Nyusi won the presidency with 73% of the vote and Frelimo will have 184 seats in the 250 seat parliament. By contrast in 2004, Guebuza won with 75% and Frelimo gained 191 parliament seats. Read the full article
Protest and secrecy
The official national count was yesterday (Saturday 26 October) and this was the only session open to observers and party mandatários (agents). It was not actually a count, and simply consisted of showing the slides which would be shown to the public today. The slides and totals had been agreed at a closed meeting Friday. Read the full article
Polling station head convicted of ballot box stuffing for Frelimo
Henrique Martins was sentenced on 17 October to five months in prison by the Mutarara District Court, after being found guilty of ballot box stuffing in Frelimo's favour. Martins was a polling station chair at the Mapulango primary school, Inhangoma, Mutarara Tete. Read the full article
CNE only accepts results on 9-8 vote; "scandal" and "farce" says opposition
General Elections 86 - 25 October 2019
"Our conscience demands that we not subscribe to this scandal. We cannot in good faith, loyalty to the law and patriotic sense approve this political farce," say the eight members of the National Elections Commission who today (Friday 25 Ocotber) voted against approving the election results. "We reject these results because they do not faithfully reflect popular will."
However the election was approved by the Frelimo-aligned majority, with the chair, Sheik Abul Carimo, casting the key vote in favour. Read the full article
EISA: 'Integrity of election compromised'
General Elections 85 - 22 October 2019
Key aspects of the electoral process, such as security challenges, voter registration, campaigns and selective observer accreditation have compromised the integrity of the elections," said EISA in an interim statement this morning.
EISA reports that of 6955 observers they trained, election commissions illegally refused to accredit 3000. Read The Full Article
Frelimo wins 2/3 of AR
Using the EISA PVT projections it is possible to estimate the number of parliament (AR) seats (using a d'Hondt calculator to properly attribute seats to parties. The estimate is that Frelimo gains 179 seats (giving it a 2/3 majority), Renamo 62, MDM 8, and the Nampula-based party Amusi 1 seat. Renamo won a seat in Gaza so it has members of the AR from all provinces. Read the full article
Districts which barred observers or did not post results sheets
The electoral law requires that the district tabulation is open to observers and that the results sheet (edital) be posted outside immediately after the count. But in at least 17 districts this was not done. In some places participation was prohibited and no edital was posted: Read the full article
Whole districts stuffed votes for Nyusi
General Elections 84 - 21 October 2019
District election results show that entire districts were stuffing the ballot boxes for Nyusi, either with physical ballot paper or by changing the results at polling station or district level. An incredible 19 of out 138 districts have a turnout above 75%, and all of them voted more than 80% for Nyusi. In Gaza, many of the ghosts voted - there were polling stations with no queue throughout the day but somehow reported high turnouts and votes for Frelimo. Read The full article
25,000 opposition votes invalidated
25,000 opposition votes invalidated Opposition ballot papers are often spoiled with an extra ink mark or fingerprint to make them invalid. The average percentage of invalid votes in our districts is 3%. So we assume any district with 6% or more invalid votes have seen significant fraud. Of our 138 districts, 20 have 6% or more invalid votes, going up to 11% in Nacala-a-Velha (Nampula) and N'gauma (Niassa). If we assume invalid votes over 3% in these districts have been stolen from the opposition, the number of stolen votes is 25,000. Read the full article
Frelimo 71% landslide likely
General Elections 83 - 19 October 2019
As more results become available, Frelimo's landslide victory is confirmed. Based on a sample of nearly 3000 polling stations, projections now indicate Filipe Nyusi (Frelimo) has won 71% of the vote. Ossufo Momade (Renamo) is projected to have won only 21% of the vote, Daviz Simango (MDM) 7%, and Mario Albino (Amusi) less than 1%. Read the full article
Renamo says election "total violence" violates peace accord
"We saw a total violence characterised by the blocking and expulsion of Renamo party delegates (poll watchers, scrutineers) and party nominated polling station staff by polling station heads with the help of the police, and the arrest of delegates and voters when they tried to protest against ballot box stuffing," said Renamo secretary-general André Magibire at a press conference this morning (19 Oct). Read the full article
Editor's view: Decentralized control and intimidation
General Elections 82 - 18 October 2019
This election was different. Frelimo always calls on its members to win "at all costs", but having reported on all of Mozambique's multiparty elections, this one feels the first general election in which Frelimo exerted power in an organised but decentralised way. Read the full article
Renamo Women's League leader killed
Renamo Women's League President in Zumbo, Tete, Babula Jeque and her husband João Fenhane, were shot dead by strangers on the morning of 14 October.
Jeque was riding a motorcycle with her husband in the direction of Muze and Zambue to leave credentials and copies the electoral register with Renamo delegates. Read the full article
US questions integrity of election, and sees Gaza ghosts vote
"US Embassy election observers witnessed a number of irregularities and vulnerabilities during the voting and the first stages of the tabulation process. For example, at numerous polling stations in Gaza our teams noted low turnout through mid-afternoon, but results sheets posted and visible by October 16 indicated close to 100% turnout – results that would have required, in the final hours of the day, a rate of voter processing of such extraordinary alacrity that it strains credulity," said the United States embassy in a statement issued this afternoon. In other words, the Gaza ghosts voted. Read the full article
EU hits "unlevel playing field" and "climate of fear" in harsh statement
General Elections 81 - 17 October 2019
"An unlevel playing field was evident throughout the campaign," said the European Union Observation Mission in an unusually harsh interim statement this afternoon. "The ruling party dominated the campaign in all provinces and benefited from the advantages of incumbency, including unjustified use of state resources, and more police escorts and media coverage than opponents." Read the full article
Frelimo landslide victory
General Elections 80 - 17 October 2019
Frelimo looks set to win with a landslide. Projections now indicate Filipe Nyusi has won at least 70% of the vote. Ossufo Momade (Renamo) is projected to have won only 21% of the vote, Daviz Simango (MDM) 7%, and Mario Albino (Amusi) less than 1%. Turnout was 55%. Read the full article
Frelimo on course for tainted victory
General Elections 79 - 16 October 2019
Frelimo and its presidential candidate Filipe Nyusi appear to be on course for victory. Severe restrictions on observation and the failure to post polling station results in places where the opposition is expected to win make it impossible to forecast percentages. But partial and initial reports give Frelimo a large margin. Read the full article
Significant ballot box stuffing
Initial reports show a significant number of polling stations where 100% voted and they voted overwhelmingly for Frelimo presidential candidate Filipe Nyusi. As well as the 100%, there is a similar large group where 90% to 100% voted, again overwhelmingly for Nyusi. This must be ballot box stuffing. Read the full article
Frelimo "observers" vote several times
Zambezia STAE was unable to accredit more than 1000 independent observers, but many credentials were issued for a Frelimo “observer” group, the National Youth Council (Conselho Nacional da Juventude, CNJ). But our correspondents reports that CNJ abused observer's special voting rights In Zambezia to vote several times at different polling stations. Cases have been reported in Mopeia and Inhassunge districts. Read the full article
Last polling stations still voting at 20h00
General Elections 77 - 15 October 2019
Anyone in the queue at 18h00 closing time can still vote. Most polling stations closed on time, but some remained open after 18h00 in all provinces, most notably in Zambezia and Cabo Delgado. In most cases there were only short queues of people who rushed to vote at the last minute, and most closed by 19h00. Read the full article
Tear Gas and Air Shots to Disperse Voters Staying Behind
Despite the CNE's call for people to leave polling centres after voting, in some places they are heading the opposition party appeals to remains close to the polling centres to monitor the count. Read the full article
Police expel observers
At the Mocubela factory primary school in Zambezia, the CIP observer was threatened by police and forced to leave the polling station and could not observe the vote count. Voters are now gathering around the school. Read the full article
Aggression at polling stations
In Dondo district, the President of polling station 8 was assaulted by an MDM member of the polling station staff who noticed alleged movement of backpacks inside the polling station. The President declined to cooperate, which led to confusion. Police were called in to restore the order. Read the full article
Special polling stations for Gaza ghosts?
General Elections 76 - 15 October 2019
Many polling stations with no voters are being reported in urban areas of Gaza province, including Xai-Xai and Bilene, by observers and our correspondents. These are the areas with the 300,000 extra registered voters - the places where the number of voters vastly exceeds the number of voting-age adults. It appears that the ghost voters have their own polling stations. Read the full article
Caught with Frelimo ballots
Since the opening of voting, people have been caught with blank ballot papers or those marked in favour of Frelimo and its presidential candidate, trying to introduce them at the ballot boxs. Felisberto Naife, Director of the Technical Secretariat of the Electoral Administration (STAE), admitted the problem existed but refused to comment at press conference this afternoon. This should be impossible and requires the connivance of polling station staff. Read the full article
Voting opens normally; turnout mixed
General Elections 75 - 15 October 2019
Polling opened normally across the country, with few problems. But turnout is very mixed with low tur nout in some areas and high turnout elsewhere, particularly in Nampula, Zambezia, Niassa and Sofala. Queues of over 400 per polling stations were reported in Mecuburi, Nampula. In Xai-Xai , Bilene (Gaza), Massinga (Inhambane) and Maputo City (Bagamoyo) there were no voters at some polling stations. Read the full article
Campaign ends peacefully across the country
General Elections 72-73 - 12 October 2019
The last day of the election campaign was quiet across the country. Filipe Nyusi started the day in Nampula and ended in Matola where his closing rally attended by thousands of people. Ossufo Momade was in four important districts of Nampula. He started the day in Angoche, then went to a very crowded rally in the city of Nampula, moved to his homeland, Ilha de Moçambique, and by nightfall was making another rally in Nacala Porto, with
thousands of people. Daviz Simango rallied to thousands in Beira, his bastion.
There were no reports of major incidents on the last day. Read the full article
No observer credentials today for EISA
No credentials were issued today to observer groups coordinated by EISA, which are the biggest independent civil society observation. EISA groups are missing 3756 observer credentials. Sala da Paz is missing more than 300. But late today there may finally be movement in one problem province, Zambézia. With the election only two days away and many observers far away from provincial capitals, it increasingly looks like a conscious attempt to prevent independent national observation in areas where fraud is possible. Read the full article
US Embassy issues Nampula violence warning
The US embassy yesterday (11 Oct) issued a security alert for Nampula city ("credible threats"), Xai-Xai ("recent violence against civil society groups") and Cabo Delgado north of Pemba. It points to "a recent increase in tensions, including some political violence" but also says it "expects the elections to be relatively calm throughout most of the country." In particular it warns that "US citizens should avoid polling stations and government buildings on election day," although it appears that this will be ignored by US election observers. Read the full article
In the campaign
There is no campaign violence but only opposition victimization, Frelimo national spokesman Caifadine Manasse told a campaign press conference yesterday. "The opposition wants to show that there are problems just to gain sympathy because it does not have a governance program, it has no messages to convey." The Bulletin cited cases of aggression involving Frelimo supporters across the country during the election campaign, but Manasse distanced himself. “Any citizen who is involved in vandalism does not follow Frelimo's agenda.” Read the full article
CNE gave money to parties in an illegal way
Distribution of money to parties by the CNE violated the law. We were wrong in Bulletin 60 (25 September) when we called that claim fake news. The CNE distributed funds in such a way that each candidate standing for the single seat in Africa received 345,000 MT ($5587), while each candidate for one of the 45 seats in Nampula received only 5,000 MT ($81). Read the article
Gondola administrator's car attacked and burned
General Elections 70 - 09 October 2019
Five people were injured and a protocol vehicle of the Gondola administrator, Moguen Candieiro, was reduced to ashes as a result of an attack by gunmen in Amatongas, Gondola district, Manica. The attack occurred yesterday afternoon (8 October) in the Pinangonga region where the district administrator was campaigning for Frelimo. Read the full article
Keeping the internet open for a free election
No plans to cut or restrict the internet are indicated for the 15 October election. Other countries have cut social media and internet during elections, but Mozambique has a good record of not blocking internet. Even during the disputed counts after the municipal elections last year, communications remained normal. Indeed, international communications have only been cut twice - in 1983 after the South African air raid on Matola international telephone links were cut, and in 2010 during the Maputo riots SMS text messaging was blocked. Read the full article
Russians help Frelimo members break the law
The Russian International Anticrisis Centre (IAC), which already intervened in the South Africa election, is now backing Frelimo in the Mozambican election. Frelimo's social media supporters network is widely - and illegally - posting a very questionable report from the IAC. Read the full article
Frelimo continues to collect voter cards
Frelimo members continue to collect voter cards across the country, despite the president of the National Election Commission (CNE) Sheik Abdul Carimo publicly condemning the practice and calling it illegal. But new cases are reported by our correspondents. Read the full article
Police admit their death squad killed Gaza observation leader Anastacio Matavele
General Elections 69 - 8 October 2019
Four of the five gunmen who yesterday murdered Anastácio Matavele, an electoral observation leader in Gaza, are agents of the Special Operations Group of the of the riot police, the spokesperson for the General Command of the police, Orlando Mudumane, admitted at a Maputo press conference this morning. Read the full article
Renamo man murdered
A Renamo sympathizer was stabbed to death last night (7 October) in the village of Pambara, Vilankulo , Inhambane. Read The full article
Arson, attacks and brawls in Marávia, Tete
7 people were injured after Frelimo stormed a Renamo rally In Maravia, Tete, yesterday afternoon; one of the Frelimo injured is in serious condition, our correspondents report. Marávia and especially Malowere administrative post are seen as Renamo bastions and there is high tension there. Read the full article
Election Observation Leader gunned down in Gaza
General Elections 68 - 7 October 2019
An election observation leader and civil society activist in Gaza, Anastacio Matavel. was assassinated this morning as he left an election observer training sessions in the Titiana Complex of neighbourhood 11, Xai-Xai. Matavel was shot 10 times, our correspondents report. Read the full article
CIP condemns murder as attack on observation
“The murder of Anastácio Matavele is a direct attack not only on this citizen and his family, but also on all civil society organizations and individuals working on independent electoral observation. CIP condemns this macabre act and demands a public statement by Frelimo candidate and President Filipe Nyusi, repudiating the electoral violence that has been taking place throughout the country since the beginning of the election campaign," declared the Public Integrity Centre (CIP), publishers of this bulletin, this afternoon. Read the full article
Renamo accuses Frelimo of sabotaging Momade campaign by closing airstrips
Renamo presidential candidate Ossufo Momade was unable to conduct an election campaign in four districts of Manica because his plane was not allowed to land at local airstrips. Renamo delegate and Manica head of list Alfredo Magumisse accuses the public company, Airports of Mozambique, of sabotaging the Ossufo Momade campaign on Frelimo's orders, by closing airstrips to prevent the candidate from arriving in those districts. Read the full article
Other election news
Two Renamo supporters were arrested on 4 and 7 October in Dondo, Sofala, allegedly for destroying Frelimo posters. Those targeted were spotted by police in the central neighbourhood on National Highway 6 and arrested, our correspondents report. Read the full article
MMV manual error could promote fraud,
observers and party delegates warned
General Elections 67 - 6 October 2019
The way the vote is recorded during the count is a key to one of the most important methods for observers and party delegates to prevent ballot box stuffing, but the manual for polling station staff (MMVs, membros de mesa de voto) makes a major error in the explanation which could encourage fraud. Read the full article
Better queue management in new MMV manual
Long and sometimes unruly queues are a problem at many polling stations, especially early in the morning of voting day. Some small changes set out in the manual for polling station staff (MMVs, membros de mesa de voto) could make queuing and voting run more smoothly. Read the full article
MMV candidates boycott training over food
Candidates for polling station staff (membros de mesa de voto, MMV) in Morrumbala District, Zambézia, dropped out of training Saturday (5 October) because they were dissatisfied with the snack provided by the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) in the district. Read the full article
Other elections news
Ossufo Momade no show disappoints supporters
Renamo members and supporters in Barué, Manica, were disappointed when their candidate for president, Ossufo Momade, failed to visit. He was first was due to arrive at the district headquarters on Friday (4 October) which was postponed until Saturday. But even then he did not arrive, our correspondents report. Read the full article
26 injured as truck overturns going to Nyusi rally
General_Elections_66- 4 October 2019
A truck packed with dozens of Frelimo supporters overturned and injured at least 26 people in Massingir district, Gaza, yesterday (Thursday 3 October). The truck was carrying people from the village of Banga to Frelimo candidate Filipe Nyusi's rally at 9 am on the Massingir football pitch, our correspondents report. Four seriously injured were taken to Chókwè Hospital. Read the full article
With Opposition Absent, Frelimo Captures Peace Day
Frelimo took over the Peace Day celebrations and the opposition parties were virtually invisible. Peace Day marks the signing of the peace accord between Renamo and the Frelimo government on 4 October 1992.
Chemba, Sofala, District Administrator Admira Filimone took advantage of the official Peace Day ceremonies to campaign for Frelimo. "The government of Filipe Nyusi will continue to work to ensure security and tranquility," said Filimone to the population. Read the full article
Peace Day: Araújo says 'we are at war'
In the face of the armed attacks that have occurred in the centre and north of the country,
“Mozambique is at war and the Head of State has to acknowledge that. Nyusi is Commander-in-Chief and has a task, to convene the National Defence and Security Council so that he can be advised,” Manuel de Araújo, Renamo candidate for governor of Zambézia, told journalists this morning (4 October 4) in Quelimane. One cannot speak of peace as long as there are attacks from insurgents and armed men all over the country, he added. Read the full article
Election observation blocked; 6000 observers refused credentials
General Elections 64-65 - 03 October 2019
Provincial Elections Commissions (CPEs) are refusing to approve more than 6000 civil society observers, with particular problems in Nampula and Zambézia. In the largest civil society observation in the history of Mozambican elections, the organised observer groups intend to have more than 11,000 observers in one-third of all polling stations. But it now appears this will be blocked by CPEs. Read the full article
CNE head hits out at Frelimo
"Bad behaviour" by Frelimo was criticised in a statement today by the President of the National Elections Commission, Sheik Abdul Carimo. Without mentioning Frelimo by name, he cited "obstructions of party entourages in Xai-Xai, Manlakazi, Chókwè, Limpopo and Bilene in Gaza," which were cases of Frelimo blocking the entourage of Daviz Simango, MDM presidential candidate. Read the full article
In contrast to Daviz, Ossufo had free passage in Inhambane and Gaza
Ossufo Momade began his campaign in the southern part of the country on 30 September and for three days worked unhindered in Inhambane and Gaza. After Frelimo supporters made the MDM Daviz Simango campaign unfeasible in both provinces, Ossufo went unchallenged from the Save River to Manjacaze. Read the full article
1 dead in 'Renamo Junta' attack
One person died and three were injured this morning (October 3) in an attack by gunmen in Gorongosa, Sofala on a Nagi bus travelling from Nampula to Maputo.. The attack took place on the main north-south N1 read near the Pungwe river bridge between Gorongosa and Nhamatanda. The victims were evacuated to Gorongosa Rural Hospital for medical treatment. Read the full article
Frelimo blocks Daviz Simango in south
General Elections 62-63 - 1 October 2019
MDM presidential candidate Daviz Simango's campaign has been blocked by Frelimo supporters in at least 7 districts since he moved south across the Save River on 27 September into the four provinces of the south.
In Gaza in Mandlakazi, Daviz Simango's caravan was prevented from moving to the village of Mbocodane, where he planned a rally on 29 September. Frelimo supporters blocked the road that gives access to the village by placing a vehicle as a barrier and refusing to withdraw it. The car parked on the road prevented the circulation of other vehicles. Read the full article
Attacks in Mocimboa da Praia & Muidumbe
Insurgents attacked the village of Antadora, Mocímboa da Praia district, this afternoon (1 October). Between 3 and 5 pm the guerrillas burned houses and kidnapped some people. There were no deaths, our correspondents report. The village of Antadora is located on the main road giving access to the districts of Mueda, Mocímboa da Praia and Palma. Read the full article
$97 mn for elections from gas sale
The hole in the elections budget will be filled from capital gains tax from the sale of the gas project from Anadarko to Total. President Filipe Nyusi, on the campaign trail in Espungabera, Manica, revealed previous secret details of capital gains taxes and how they are being used. Read the full article
Transported to Nyusi rally and abandoned
In Zavala, Inhambane, Frelimo supporters were mobilized by community leaders from their districts to attend the party president's rally on 30 September. More than a hundred supporters from Panda and Inharrime (both in Inhambane) and Mandlakazi (in Gaza) were transported in trucks to ensure that Filipe Nyusi's rally was full. Read the full article
Parties campaign on Facebook
In addition to marches, parades, shows, and door-to-door canvassing, parties have invested time and resources in social networks in the hunt for the vote.
Facebook is the favourite platform; only one party (Frelimo) is in Twitter with just 191 followers. Our survey showed that half of the contending election parties are permanently present on Facebook. Frelimo is the most accepted party on Facebook, with over 77,000 followers on its page. In the next position is Renamo with about 16,000 followers. Nova Democracia (ND) and MDM follow with more than 11,000 followers. Read the full article
MDM violence in Dondo - 20 injured
An MDM entourage on 10 motorcycles hit a crowd of Renamo supporters attending a rally yesterday morning (30 September), injuring 20 people, our correspondents report. The rally, led by Renamo's political delegate, was in the 1 de Maio neighbourhood of Mutua, Dondo, Sofala.
Police escorting Renamo detained two MDM supporters involved while others fled. At the time of the incident, the MDM caravan had just left the 25 de Setembro neighbourhood for the 1 Maio neighbourhood. Read the full article
No power for Renamo
In Manica town, residents of the April 7 neighbourhood complain that they were not covered by the expansion of electricity, allegedly for supporting the opposition. The local council of Manica has provided funds for electrification, however the neighbourhood of Raça, where Renamo sympathizers reside, has not yet had access, Renamo's Manica Information Officer Bento Guirau said, following a meeting with residents of Raça yesterday (30 September). Read the full article
Attacks on opposition presidential candidates escalate violence
General Elections 61 - 29 September 2019
Ossufo Momade's car was stoned by Frelimo supporters in Tete and Daviz Simango's car was blocked and he was not allowed to speak in Inhambane, as Frelimo supporters for the first time physically attacked opposition presidential candidates.
In an already increasingly aggressive campaign, intimidation and provocation among members and supporters of competing parties has been occurring at local level, but this was an escalation of the violence. In both cases there were no riots because opposition candidates appealed to their supporters not to respond to the provocation with violence. But can calm be maintained? Read the full article
Tighter rules to prevent fraud by polling station staff
Accusations of misconduct by polling station staff led the National Elections Commission (CNE) to impose new restrictions. In particular there have been accusations of taking ballot papers in and out of polling stations. A new regulation bars polling station staff members (membros de mesas de voto, MMVs) from having with them "bags, backpacks, briefcases, wallets or any other means of transport or guarding material that may be suspicious or contribute to disagreement within the polling station." Read the full article
Gunfire and arson against the opposition Renamo delegate's house in Mopeia attacked
The home of Renamo's delegate in Zero, Mopeia, Zambézia, Felix Vale Afonso, was invaded on Friday night by people firing guns, forcing the family to flee. Read the full article
AMUSI quits campaign in Cabo Delgado for fear of insurgents
Mario Albino abandoned his presidential campaign in Cabo Delgado Friday for alleged lack of police security and fear of the insurgents who have led attacks in the north-eastern districts of the province. Read the full article
Smaller campaigns by smaller parties
The three big parties with seats in parliament - Frelimo, Renamo and MDM - are dominating the campaign. The 24 smaller parties have received some government money, but campaigning has been limited.
AMUSI has the only other presidential candidate and will receive the most money ($300,000) of the small parties. The party is based in Nampula, home province of its presidential candidate Mário Albino, and has concentrated its efforts there. The party has been holding rallies and parades and doing door to door campaign; its posters can be seen. Read the full article
Nyusi bans trucking people to fill his rallies
Across the country people are being transported from distant points and in unsafe conditions, such as standing in the back of a lorries intended only for cargo, to fill the rallies led by Frelimo presidential candidate Filipe Nyusi. This was at the root of the fatal accident that killed at least 7 people in Songo on 22 September, when a truck returning form a Nyusi rally overturned throwing down a hill the 60 people standing in the back. Read the full article
Did Renamo man intentionally drive car into Frelimo women?
It could be another road accident if the victims were not Frelimo supporters and the driver, a man who had been transferred from Morrumbene High School to the primary school allegedly for being a Renamo member. So a road accident Wednesday (26 September) in Morrumbene, Inhambane, has become a political case. Read the full article
Barred from standing for president, Estêvão calls for boycott
Estêvão da Fátima, secretary general of a small party called MAMO (Mozambican Alternative Movement), was barred by the Constitutional Council for standing for president because too many his nomination signatures were fake. Read the full article
Frelimo hijacks 25 September ceremonies
General Elections 60 - 25 September 2019
In many places across the country today, Frelimo turned ceremonies for 25 September into party rallies. Today (25 September) is the anniversary of the first shot of the independence war in Chai, Cabo Delgado, in 1964, and is Armed Forces Day. Read the full article
Neighbourhood head arrested for collecting voter card numbers
The head of neighbourhood 9 in central Xai-Xai, Gaza, was arrested yesterday afternoon for making a list of voters card numbers of residents of neighbourhoods 8 and 9. During Renamo's door-todoor campaign in neighbourhood 9, Renamo supporters met 39-year-old Francisco Fabião Maphosse noting voter card numbers, voter names and contact details, and the names of polling centres where each voter must vote. Read the full article
CNE secrecy promotes fake news
The National Elections Commission (CNE) has become less transparent. It hardly uses Facebook and does not use its website. Few details have been released about party finance, except to tell parties that Deliberação nº 58/CNE/2014, de 9 de Julho is being followed. Read the full article
Insurgents kill 12 and burn Frelimo headquarters in Mbau, Cabo Delgado
General Elections 59 - 24 September 2019
Insurgents carried out two attacks yesterday (September 23) in Mocimboa da Praia and Muidumbe districts in Cabo Delgado. Muidumbe's attack took place at the Mbau Administrative Post, 83 km from the district town of Mocimboa da Praia, starting at 6 pm and continuing until 1 am. Ten people died in the attack. Half of the village houses plus Frelimo's local headquarters were set on fire. In the town, forces from the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR) tried to repel the attack, leading to an exchange of fire that lasted for several hours. Read the full article
Post-Idai aid in Sofala only for Frelimo?
Since the start of the election campaign, people affected by cyclone Idai in Sofala have been pressured to not support the opposition. In some cases, local leaders and party members threaten to remove individuals from the food-for-work project, and in others require voter cards in exchange for Idai food aid. The cases are reported by our correspondents in the districts of Buzi and Dondo, which were badly hit by the cyclone. Read the full article
Renamo accuses Frelimo of buying its flags to burn them
Renamo provincial delegate Clementina Bomba accuses Frelimo members of buying their party's flags at the Santos Market, Matola, and then burning them, last week. Read the full article
Songo tragedy: survivors tell how fatal crash happened
General Elections 58 - 23 September 2019
Amado Mateus, 18, is a 12th grade student at Mágoè Secondary School. He is a resident of the 1st District of Daque, Mágoè, about 120 km from the scene of the fatal accident on Mount Mbonga in Songo.
On Sunday morning, 22 September, Amado and dozens of other young people from his district were transported by cargo truck to Songo, where they attended the rally of Frelimo presidential candidate Filipe Nyusi. At least 7 of the truck's occupants died on this trip. Mateus survived but with physical and psychological scars. Read the full article
3 Gaza teachers transferred for backing MDM
Three teachers were transferred from the Tlavene EPC in Mabalane village, Gaza province, to other schools in remote areas, allegedly as a reprimand for being part of the MDM campaign.
The three Mabalane teachers on Saturday afternoon (21 September) received transfer orders from the Ntlavene EPC in the host village of Mabalane. Two were transferred to Mungingi EPC, which is about 70 km away and one to Ndangue EPC. Read the full article
More Frelimo water
In Chizipa village, Machipanda, Manica district, MDM members can only have access to water if they join Frelimo, said Vasco Horacio, MDM political delegate in the district. If they are participating in the MDM campaign they have no access to drinking water from local government funded handpumps for supporting the opposition. Horacio said he reported the case to the police. Read the full article
Frelimo campaign paralyzes public institutions in Inhambane Renamo candidate arrested in Gaza for criticizing police
Daniel Chapo is the appointed Governor of Inhambane and he is standing to be elected as Governor as head of the Frelimo provincial assembly list. And where he goes, work stops, as Inhambane province-level civil servants leave their workplaces to participate in the Frelimo campaign. Public institutions have empty offices and students go without classes when Chapo visits. Read the full article
Nyusi warns Cuamba: 'if you mess up
again' by voting Renamo, a lot will stop
General Elections 54 - 18 September 2019
“If you mess up again as you did in 2018, a lot will stop,” Filipe Nyusi's told the citizens of Cuamba, Niassa, today. In the 2018 local elections, Frelimo lost to Renamo in Cuamba, which was Nyusi's first stop on his campaign in Niassa. Read the full article
Explosion at mine kills 6
An explosion at an artisanal mine in the João neighbourhood of Cuamba killed six people at the same time as Frelimo presidential candidate Filipe Nyusi was holding a rally in the same city. The miners are digging for garnets, the deep red gemstones with a crystalline structure, and other similar crystal gemstones. Read the full article
Ossufo Momade in Zambézia hits out at Frelimo for violence and intimidation
Ossufo Momade has been in Zambézia since Thursday September 12, drawing large crowds to his rallies in the province where Renamo won the previous election. Renamo's presidential candidate criticized Frelimo's electoral violence, recalling that “they did this to President Dhlakama,” in reference to the various attacks on Renamo's late president. Read the full article
Renamo candidate arrested in Gaza for criticizing police
General Elections 53 - 17 September 2019
Heique Maria António Sitoe, Renamo candidate for national parliament for Gaza province,was arrested in Manjacaze yesterday (16 September) after he posted a message on his Facebook page criticizing police misconduct during the election campaign.“The campaign in Mandlakazi is being marred by police misconduct. Members of political parties are being threatened by the police, which makes it clear that the police are Frelimo,” he wrote on Sunday (15 September). Read the full article
War overshadows election
Gunmen attacked two cars before dawn today along the main N6 road from Beira to Chimoio. The attack was in the village of Zimpinga, Gondola district, Manica, a Renamo zone of influence, which is 80 km from the Gorongosa base of the Renamo Military Junta. Four men were injured. Read the full article
Beating ballot box stuffing
In past elections, there has always been a problem of ballot box stuffing - more votes than voters. With the extra registration in Gaza, where there has always been ballot box stuffing, this is a serious issue. But there are simple ways to control this, simply by checking the classroom blackboard and looking at the length of queues. Read the full article
Observer guide:
Preventing fraud by looking at the blackboard and the queue
The three best checks on ballot box stuffing are simple things every observer should do.
+ For each count, votes are recorded on the blackboard. Write down those numbers before they are erased.
+ Look at the queue at noon - is it still long or is there no queue?
+ When the edital is written: check that the number of votes on the edital is the same as was
on the blackboard. Check that turnout is what you expect from the queue at noon. Read the full article
Government community radio journalists censored during election
General Elections 52 - 16 September 2019
Community radio journalists working for the 60 community radio stations run by the government's Institute of Social Communication (ICS) across the country are barred from engaging in outside journalism and observation activities, according a circular dated 11 September 2019.
"Staff and volunteers of the ICS are barred from establishing links or providing services as correspondents to social, national and foreign media outlets, to non-government organisations, as well as acting as electoral observers," says the circular, signed by the ICS Director-General, Farida Abdula. She makes clear that community radio staff are civil servants or agents of the state, and thus subject to the ICS Editorial Policy, the Press Law, the Law on Public Probity, the Code of Conduct for State Officials and the Staff Regulations for State agents which bans such activities.
Nampula tragedy: Presidential Guard blocked gate, stopping people leaving
General Elections 51 - 15 September 2019
Actions of the Presidential Guard may be behind the Nampula tragedy, which killed 10 people and injured 98, according to a Bulletin investigation, talking to people attending the event, including journalists and police officers.
On Wednesday 11 September President Filipe Nyusi, standing for a second term as president, gave a speech at a "showmicio" (free music "show"+ "comicio" or meeting) at Nampula's 25 June Football Stadium. It can accommodate 5,000 people seated, but many more were there, standing on the field. Filipe Nyusi had just left the stadium when thousands of people tried to leave at the same time using a single open gate. Some fell and were trampled to death. Curiously no television showed the moment of the incident, nor are smartphone images circulating on social networks, as might be expected. So we investigated.
Police commander suspended, but the campaign goes on
General Elections 49-50 - 12 September 2019
Ten people were crushed or trampled to death and 98 people were injured yesterday afternoon as people rushed through a single gate to leave a rally for President, and Frelimo presidential candidate, Filipe Nyusi at 25 June stadium in Nampula.
Nampula provincial police commander Joaquim Sive has been suspended; he was only appointed earlier this year. Nyusi maintained his campaign schedule in Nampula province today, travelling to Mogovolas and Mossuril districts for rallies.
10 dead in crush at Nyusi rally
General Elections 48 - 11 September 2019
There was a panic and crush as people tried to leave a rally with President Filipe Nyusi in Nampula this afternoon (Wednesday 11 September) at 25 June stadium. Ten deaths were confirmed by Frelimo. At the Nampula Central Hospital where the victims were sent, one could hear cries for help.
The press was prevented by Frelimo members from capturing any kind of image and audio. Eufrasio Gilberto, cameraman for HAQ Television, was threatened with a gun and was forced to hand over camera. Leornardo Gimo of TV Sucesso was forced to delete all his pictures. A team of ministers Celso Correia and Carlos Mesquita, accompanied by the head of the Frelimo party's central brigade of political assistance to Nampula province, had to move to the emergency room to learn about the medical condition of patients under intensive care.
Gaza polling stations double
General Elections 46-47 - 9 September 2019
Lists of the polling stations for the 15 October election show that the number of polling stations in Gaza has increased by 81% since 2014, vastly more than the increase in population in the past five years. The data was released last week by the National Elections Commission and will be posted on our website tomorrow: https://cipeleicoes.org/documentos/
3rd attack by Renamo dissidents
General Elections 45 - 8 September 2019
Four vehicles were shot at near the Pungwe river, the border between Gorongosa and Nhamatanda districts in Sofala province, in the early morning on Wednesday 4 September. The Bulletin understands there were no deaths but five people suffered serious injuries and are being treated in hospital. The vehicles were travelling north from Inchope and continued their journey as the attacks went on. Gorongosa Mayor Sabeti Morais confirmed the attacks to the Bulletin.
AMUSI presidential candidate claims intimidation by Renamo and SISE
General Elections 44 - 4 September 2019
Mario Albino, the fourth presidential candidate and president of the United Action Movement for Integral Salvation (Acção do Movimento Unido para a Salvação Integral, AMUSI), complained to this Bulletin that both Renamo and the security services (Serviços de Informação e Segurança do Estado, SISE) in Nampula were trying to intimidate him.
Albino said that this morning (Wednesday 4 Sept) when no one was in the party headquarters in the Namutequeliua neighbourhood it was assaulted by Renamo members. "Fortunately they were seen and we called the police," said Albino.
Two campaigners murdered in Dondo
General Elections 43 - 3 September 2019
A Frelimo official was stabbed to death and a Renamo member was beaten to death in Dondo district yesterday (Monday 3 September). A Renamo member has been arrested for the first murder and Renamo accuses MDM of the second.
Carla André, Frelimo secretary in Mutua, Bairro 25 de Junho, was stabbed to death in her home by three individuals who fled. A Renamo member has been arrested for her murder.
Campaign continues with skirmishes, arrests & use of state cars
General Elections 42 - 2 September 2019
On the third day of the election campaign our correspondents report some cases of misconduct involving competing political parties. Another traffic death, minor violence, destruction of posters, use of state cars, and coercive demands on teachers are some of the problems.
A Frelimo campaign vehicle leaving Malé village for Namacurra, Zambézia Sunday night (1 September) hit a group of 7 children, killing one of them. The others were taken to hospital. This was the fifth person who has died in a traffic incident in the Frelimo campaign.
Campaigning opens, but many parties start slowly as CNE money late again
General Elections 40-41 - 1 September 2019
On the first day of the official campaign (yesterday, Saturday 31 Aug) Frelimo flooded the cities and towns with posters. Renamo and MDM had limited advertising material. The situation is worst for small parties, with no seats in parliament, because they depend on state funds.
The law specifies that funds are to be distributedby the National Elections Commission (Comissão Nacional de Eleições, CNE) 21 days before the official campaign starts - that is, three weeks ago. The CNE has announced 180 million Meticais ($2.9 mn), but as in past years, the money is delayed.
Gaza audit rejected by CNE
General Elections 39 - 27 August 2019
Our request to carry out an audit of the Gaza registration was rejected yesterday (26 August) by the National Elections Commission (Comissão Nacional de Eleições - CNE). It said the information requires was a "secret of justice" ("segredo de justiça"), because false registration is a crime which is already being investigated by attorney general's office on the basis of an allegation by Renamo. Once there is a criminal investigation, to make the information available to anyone else would be an obstruction of justice, the CNE argues.
But the CNE gives no legal justification or arguments. Article 75 of the Criminal Procedure Code makes a specific allowance for external expert evidence, which such an audit would clearly provide.
No response from CNE to our audit request
General Elections 38 - 23 August 2019
In response to the huge discrepancy in population data in Gaza, the Public Integrity Centre (CIP, publishers of this Bulletin) on 12 August asked the National Elections Commission(CNE) for access to the registration data base to carry out an audit. So far, there has been no response from the CNE.
The CNE has registered 329,430 more voters than that the population census says there are voting age adults, and both the CNE and National Statistics Institute (INE) defend the credibility of their data. The proposed audit would show if the registration is inflated or if the census was wrong. It would be carried out by an international company with experience in many countries of such audits, and would be paid for by CIP.
CIP proposes Gaza registration audit
General Elections 36 - 15 August 2019
An audit of the Gaza electoral register is proposed by the Public Integrity Centre (CIP, publishers of this Bulletin) and on 12 August CIP asked the National Elections Commission for access to the registration data base to carry out the audit.
The national population census carried out by the National Statistics Institute (Instituto Nacional de Estatística, INE) in 2017 with extensive technical support by donors says that there are currently 836,581 voting age adults in Gaza, while the National Elections Commission (Comissão Nacional de Eleições, CNE) and its technical secretariat (Secretariado Técnico de Administração Eleitoral, STAE) said they registered 1,166,011 voters in Gaza. This 329,430 extra voters could make a difference in the 15 October presidential elections. If extra votes largely went to Nyusi and Frelimo, it could be enough to make a 2nd round unnecessary.
An audit of Gaza registration is possible
General Elections 35 - 18 July 2019
With growing concern about the apparently excessive number of voters registered in Gaza, Renamo called Monday for an independent audit of the electoral register: http://bit.ly/Ren-audit. An investigation by this Bulletin shows that such an audit could be carried out relatively quickly, at least for Gaza province, which has the biggest problem.
Such audits are now becoming normal and have been done in a number of African countries, including Senegal, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Kenya. Several international companies and consultants now carry out such audits.
Renamo appeals to Constitutional Council on Gaza
General Elections 35 - 4 July 2019
Renamo has appealed to the Constitutional Council against the National Elections Commission (CNE) allocation of parliament (AR) seats to Gaza province. It says the CNE 23 June decision (Del 88/CNE/2019) allocating AR seats is based on "lies" and "bad faith" and should be cancelled.
In evidence, Renamo cites this Bulletin as well as EISA and IESE. The CNE claims it registered 1,162,883 voters in Gaza, which is 82% of the people found in Gaza in the 2017 national population census (1,422,460). This means that only 18% of the residents of Gaza are children, compared to 53% in the rest of the country - or it means that the national population census missed an incredible 600,000 people in Gaza. No one has ever noted that Gaza has very few children, or that the census missed huge parts of Gaza.
CNE further muddies provincial waters
General Elections 34 - 25 June 2019
There will be district lists for the provincial assemblies (AP), even though parliament abolished them, the National Elections Commission (CNE) announced Monday. The law itself is confused and the CNE has further muddied the waters.
Under the old law, the constituency for the AP was the district, with district lists composed of local people registered to vote in the district. The new agreement with Renamo means that the governor is the head of the electoral list which gains the most votes. The old system had no single provincial list. So the new law (article 6 of law 3/2019) says the constituency is the entire province.
Presidential candidates given 30 days extra to submit signatures
General Elections 33 - 16 June 2019
After the Constitutional Council (CC) noticed a change in the just published electoral law, on Friday the CC ruled that registration of presidential candidates will not end today, but on 16 July.
To stand for president, a candidate must submit to the Constitutional Council (and not to electoral authorities) a set of documents and 10,000 notarised signatures of voters. The electoral law says this must occur 120 days before the election, which for the 15 October election is today, 16 June. The deadline was 15.30 this afternoon. Because today is Sunday it had been expected that this would be extended to Monday.
Registration manipulation gives Nyusi 370,000 extra votes or are there massive errors in the 2017 population census?
General Elections 32 - 11 June 2019
Manipulation of the registration process could give Frelimo candidate Filipe Nyusi up to 370,000 extra votes - 6% of the expected total vote - according to Bulletin calculations. Alternatively, electoral authorities have exposed a massive error in the 2017 population census, showing that the census takers in Gaza missed more than one-third of voting age adults.
The 2017 national population census showed that 47% of Mozambique's population is over 18 years old, and thus of voting age. But in setting up the registration this year, electoral authorities said that in Gaza 80% of the population were adults, while in Zambézia only 41% of the people are adults. Previously, no one had noticed that Gaza parents had so many fewer children than those in Zambézia.
Registration hits 90% as Gaza gains 9 parliament seats
General Elections 30-31 - 5 June 2019
Registration hit 12.9 million, claimed to be 90% of voting age adults, according to the report this morning by STAE of preliminary totals of the complete 46 day registration period which ended 30 May. But many anomalies have appeared in the totals.
Gaza gains 9 parliament seats - but only because STAE estimates that only 20% of the Gaza population are children and Zambézia 59% children, compared to 49% is the rest of the country. (See article on page 3) These strange figures were first noted by Prof Antonio Francisco and civil society observer group ADS.
Last day: queues over 100 in centre and north, but not in south
General Elections 29 - 30 May 2019
Queues started forming at 3 am and by opening more than 100 people were waiting to register in Cahora Bassa, Tete, at EPC (primary school) de Canchenga, today on the final day of registration for 15 October national elections.
Police shot into the air to control the unruly crowd waiting to register at EPC Josina Machel in Nacala-a-Velha, Nampula. Many were workers at local companies who had been given the day off to register.
Registration will only be 80% of target as turnout falls
General Elections 28 - 28 May 2019
Registration rates are falling and we predict that only 80% of target voters will register this year. In the first five weeks 131,153 people per day registered, but in the week to 26 May this fell to 112,831.
Registration rate falling with only 4 days to go
General Elections 26-27 - 26 May 2019
In the first 39 days (up to and including 23 May) 5,060,801, 68,93% of the target of 7.341.739 voters, according to the election technical secretariat (Secretariado Técnico de Administração Eleitoral, STAE) Friday. But the registration rate is falling. In the first 39 days the rate was 131,153 voters per day, but in the most recent four days, it was down to 117,614 per day. At that lower rate, the final registration will only be 80% of target.
Frelimo strongholds will gain 12 parliament seats
General Elections 25 - 21 May 2019
More people have registered in Frelimo strongholds of Gaza and Cabo Delgado than there are voting age adults. This could give Frelimo 12 extra seats in parliament (Assembleia da República, AR) - 10 in Gaza and 2 in Cabo Delgado. This will also have an effect in the presidential race in 15 October elections.
Fake News: Zambézia STAE claims perfection, but falls a long way short
General Elections 24 - 19 May 2019
STAE Zambézia's claim of perfect operation last week did not stand up to investigation by our correspondents. "Of the 809 registration brigades in the province of Zambézia, covering 1,144 registration posts, all of them are operating in full, corresponding to 100% operability," said STAE on 13 May in its report Informe da 4ª Semana do Recenseamento Eleitoral na Província da Zambézia.
Registration not catching up- except for Zambézia
General Elections 23 - 15 May 2019
After 28 days of voter registration (61% of the 46-day period), only 50% (3,696,520 voters) of the 7,341,736 target for 2019 have been registered. In the fourth week of registration the 995,155 registered voters was almost identical to the 995,003 registered the week before. Registration totals through Sunday 12 May were announced Tuesday afternoon. Two and a half weeks of registration remain.
Many more registration brigades in Frelimo areas, showing 'registration manipulation' - EISA
General Elections 22 - 14 May 2019
Most registration posts have been are running smoothly, in part due to extra efforts by registration brigades coping with the equipment problems and lack of solar panels.
There is no solar panel at EP1 de Luazi, Mugovolas, Nampula and no way to charge the computer. The nearest electricity is 7 km away at Nhamhupo Rio. To keep registering voters, twobrigade members go by bicycle or motorcycle each night to Nhambupo Rio to recharge the computer batteries. Dionísio António, who does the data input, notes that they are accompanied by the police agent to maintain security. He notes that they have talked to the district STAE several times and each time they say a solar panel will arrive tomorrow, but so far tomorrow has not come. So to keep the registration post open, Dionísio and his colleagues still go 14 km per day to recharge the battery.
Lions and long treks part of the job for some registration brigades
General Elections 21 - 10 May 2019
In the Frelimo heartland of Gaza, each registration brigade must register only 792 voters, but in the Renamo heartland of Nampula, each brigade must register double that number, 1598 voters. This is shown in a report published Monday by EISA, the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa.
Registration 650 000 short and falling further behind
General Elections 19-20 - 8 May 2019
After three weeks, registration is 650 000 people short of targets and is falling further behind, data released by STAE yesterday shows. Although some of the shortfall is in cyclone hit Sofala, most in is unaffected provinces.
Registration remains highest in Gaza, Manica and Cabo Delgado, and lowest in Sofala, Niassa,Nampula, Tete and Zambézia.
Attacks near Macoma Friday; registration post sacked
General Elections 17-18 - 5 May 2019
Insurgents made several attacks on villages around Macomia, Cabo Delgado, on Friday. At least six people have been killed. One attack was on the village of Nacate, on the main road south from Macomia to Pemba. The registration post was vandalised but the brigade members fled and were not hurt.
Cyclone Kenneth update
General Elections 16 - 30 April 2019
(14.30 Maputo time, 30 April)
• Rain stopped this morning allowing airplane and boat access to Ibo island and other isolated areas, but heavy rain is predicted for tonight and tomorrow in Cabo Delgado and Nampula, with strong winds and thunderstorms.
Some flood warnings were just issued.
• Parts of Pemba city are still flooded.
• Access north of Macomia is still blocked because of a collapsed bridge.
Solar panels allow registration to restart in dozens of posts
General Elections 14-15 -29 April 2019
Delivery of solar panels, as well as batteries and transformers which were missing from earlier deliveries, allowed many registration posts across the country to open at the weekend. But others are still just making do, or are closed, our correspondents report.
Three posts in Zambézia had been closed for five days, but opened Friday with the arrival of the panels. They are at EPC (primary school) de Milato, Molumbo district; EPC de Mamala, in Gilé, and EPC de Lalane, in Nicoadala.
20% of registration posts not open; long queues reported in the north
General Elections 8 - 16 April 2019
At least 20% of registration posts were not open this morning. But our correspondents in all districts report that some problems are being resolved. The main difficulties continue to be lack of electricity for the registration computers, equipment failures, and insufficient training or experience of some registration teams.
Registration opens Monday - but STAE "must adapt" to cyclone and flood
General Elections 6 - 12 April 2019
Electoral registration opens Monday, but not everywhere. There are 7,737 registration posts in Mozambique (which will also be the voting centres), but only 5,096 registration brigades. Some will be mobile and will move on a fixed schedule to cover several registration posts in more remote areas. STAE will also use the mobile brigades to deal with the problems caused by Cyclone Idai and the subsequent floods, explained Cláudio Langa, spokesperson for the Election Technical Secretariat (Secretariado Técnico de Administração Eleitoral - STAE) at a press conference this morning.
Parliament curbs worst electoral fraud
General Elections 5 - 9 April 2019
Fraud of the sort that occurred in municipal elections in October last year is made more difficult by amendments to the electoral laws approved by parliament last week. In five municipalities the Frelimo majority in elections commissions called secret meetings in which they ruled that Frelimo had won, despite parallel counts showing a Renamo victory. Renamo was unable to protest because the law said that a complaint could be made to the district court only if there had been a "prior objection" (impugnação previa) at the meeting which
Renamo was not told about.
Opposition accepts government centralisation plans with 2 'governors' in each province
General Elections 4 - 31 March 2019
Opposition parties in parliament are not challenging government-proposed laws which centralise power in the name of 'decentralisation', it became clear last week. A constitutional amendment approved last year called for an elected governor and a new central government representative called a Provincial Secretary of State in each province. The proposed laws define the powers of each.
Government centralisation plans: 2 'governors' in each province
General Elections 2 - 8 March 2019
Under the label of '"decentralisation", the government has submitted a centralisation plan to parliament - with many important omissions. The present centrally appointed governor is simply renamed the "Provincial Secretary of State", while a new "governor" is elected. Both have offices and staff and overlapping responsibilities.
Lack of money means untrained election officials
General Elections 1 - 14 February 2019
There is not enough money for the 15 October national elections, and the National Elections Commission (CNE) has been forced to open the majority of district elections commissions and\technical secretariats (STAEs) without training, said CNE spokesperson Paulo Cuinica at a press conference in Maputo Thursday morning.
