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.
These figures are based on reports from nearly 1300 polling stations which were observed (more than 6% of 20,142 polling stations in Mozambique). The number was restricted because electoral authorities barred 3000 domestic observers who were supposed to conduct the PVT, and this means coverage in Gaza and Zambézia was particularly limited.
Because these 1300 polling stations were obviously being observed, polling station staff probably took more care to follow the rules. It must be assumed that the levels of rule and law violations were higher in unobserved polling stations, which makes the high levels in observed polling stations surprising.
Restrictions on observers during polling day and the count was reported in 13% of observed polling stations, with the biggest problems in Nampula (Nacaroa, Ilha de Moçambique, and Nampula city), Gaza, and Matola.
The initial counting of ballots is done within the polling station, and the law requires that the results sheet (edital) be immediately posted outside the polling station (usually a school classroom). In 4% of observed polling stations this was not done.
The law requires that the count start immediately after the close of voting, but this was openly flouted. More than 16% of polling stations started the count more than an hour late, and another 12% started 30 to 60 minutes late. The most common reason, in 12% of observed polling stations, was that the president and others took time off for dinner – in total violation of the law which requires an immediate start to the count. Often the ballot papers were left without proper security, making it easy for tampering to take place. Thus in 28% of polling stations (more than one quarter) the count did not start promptly and ballo papers were at risk of tampering.
During the count, there was violence in 2% of the observed polling stations. An armed attack on Hucula primary school, Namigonha, Nampula city was reported by the observer. At Naherenque primary school, Mocone, Nacala-Porto, Nampula, voters stoned the polling station. Police were blamed for violence in three cases. Most common were 7 fights between supporters of different parties, and 9 cases of insults, threats and intimidation; party delegates were commonly involved. There was one case of a fight between polling station staff members (MMVs).
