Mozambicans vote for new leader, parliamentary deputies --[Reported by Umva mag]

Millions of Mozambicans voted on Wednesday for a new leader, members of parliament, provincial assembly representatives and regional governors.

Polling stations opened at 7am (0500 GMT) across Mozambique and are expected to close at 6pm, while diaspora voters would have the opportunity to cast their ballots from 7am to 9pm at voting centres established in Eswatini, Germany, Kenya, Malawi, Portugal, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The more than 17 million registered voters have the task of selecting among four candidates the person they want to be the country’s leader over the next five years.

These are ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) candidate Daniel Chapo, main opposition Mozambique National Resistance (Renamo) leader Ossufo Momade, Mozambique Democratic Movement president Lutero Simango and independent candidate Venancio Mondlane.

A total of 36 political parties are contesting in elections for members the 250-member National Assembly as well as for deputies for provincial assemblies.

Frelimo has dominated the elections since Mozambique’s independence in 1975, winning 184 National Assembly seats in the last polls held in October 2019.

Renamo got 60 seats while MDM could only manage six seats.

Outgoing President Filipe Nyusi on Tuesday called on Mozambicans to responsibly exercise their civic duty in an “orderly and peaceful” fashion.

In an address to the nation, he also called on the electoral administration bodies to ensure all the logistics necessary for the voting process and to the voters to wait for the results at their residences after the vote.

The result of the election is expected to be confirmed by the end of October.

Nyusi urged the police to ensure law and order, the protection of voters and electoral administration bodies, within the legal standards.

JN/APA

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