“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).
The shows Frelimo does not want peace and violated the August peace accord. Article 3 of the Accord says the parties (Renamo and government) “will not practice acts of violence and intimidation for political objectives.”
“We had examples where Renamo delegates caught presidents of polling stations in the act of putting four or more ballot papers in the ballot box, but instead of arresting the perpetrator, the police arrested the Renamo delegate who denounced the crime.” Magibire continued that the exclusion, expulsion and arrest of Renamo delegates and polling stations staff members made it impossible to make protests at polling stations or collect evidence of fraud needed by the courts.
“The magnitude of the fraud” was so great that the elections cannot be accepted. They must be annulled and run again, he said.
In response to questions, Magibire said that what happens now will be decided by a meeting of the Renamo political commission to be held shortly. It is believed that the meeting is also likely to discuss the position of Ossufo Momande as president of Renamo and a possible November party congress.
