 "A poster of independent candidate Venacio Mondalane is held at an election rally in Maputo. AP")
A large number of voters are expected to show up on Wednesday (October 9) as Mozambique heads to polls to choose a new president.
Political pundits are almost certain that the ruling Frelimo party will be back in the high position again, reported news agency Reuters.
As many as 17 million people are registered to vote in the African country that has a population of 31 million people. These voters are set to decide the fate of 250 members of parliament and provincial assemblies.
The country which has been plagued with several issues for years, including jihadist insurgency, famines and droughts, expects the ruling party’s Daniel Chapo to replace Filipe Nyusi as president. Chapo is a former radio announcer and law lecturer.
As one of the world’s poorest countries heads to the polls, let us give you a detailed description of all that you should know about the elections.
Who all are in the race for president?
A former radio announcer and law lecturer David Chapo is being backed by the Frelimo party, which has been in power since 1975 when the country gained independence from Portugal, to replace the current president. It is to be noted that the 47-year-old Chapo is a former governor of the southern province of Inhambane, a strong driver of the country’s tourism economy.
Chapo is expected to face the most competition from 50-year-old Venacio Mondlane, a banker and forestry engineer who runs as an independent candidate under the slogan “Save Mozambique, this country’s ours" and has drawn large crowds.
Mondlane is backed by the Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique, or Podemos, set up by dissidents from the ruling party. He ran as a mayoral candidate in local elections last year, and his supporters alleged that he won but was robbed.
The Democratic Movement of Mozambique has fielded Lutero Simango. His party was created in 2008, breaking away from the rebel group-turned-opposition party Mozambique National Resistance, or Renamo. Simango’s party resonates with youth because of its policies on inequality and jobs.
Renamo is represented by Ossufo Momade, who became the party’s head after the death of the charismatic Afonso Dhlakama, a former rebel leader who died in 2018.
What are the issues?
There are several issues plaguing the African nation that has more than 34 million people. From Islamist insurgency to extreme climate changes to a debt scandal, here are some issues that the new government will have to face.
Islamist insurgency: Islamic State-linked militants launched an insurgency in the northern gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado in 2017, killing thousands of civilians, destroying livelihoods and internally displacing hundreds of thousands, aid agencies say. The insurgency has disrupted multi-billion-dollar energy projects, reported news agency Reuters.
Stalled gas projects: French energy giant TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA), opened a new tab and halted work on its $20 billion LNG project and declared force majeure in 2021 after insurgents attacked the northern town of Palma, a logistics hub near the site. According to Reuters, another LNG project led by Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), opened a new tab and its partner Eni (ENI.MI), opened a new tab which was also delayed.
Debt Scandal: Mozambique is still reeling from a $1.5 billion-plus “tuna bond” scandal in which money lent to state-run firms for fishing fleets, funded in part by Credit Suisse, went missing.
Climate changes: An El-Nino-induced drought has ravaged southern African countries, wiping out crops, including in Mozambique. Around 1.8 million people have been affected by the drought in central and southern parts of the country, the United Nations Mozambique said in August.
When will we know the election winner?
There is just one day of voting and counting starts immediately, with partial results announced as they trickle in. Official results will be announced by the National Election Commission after 15 days and subsequently validated by the Constitutional Council. Any party may file objections with the council, which will decide whether they have merit.
With inputs from AP