Mozambique election was mostly 'orderly' and 'peaceful' says EU: Video
Ballot counting commenced Thursday, October 10, following a tense yet calm general election in Mozambique, with opposition leader Venancio Mondlane declaring an early victory over the ruling Frelimo party.
The party has been in power since the country’s independence from Portugal 49 years ago.
More than 17 million voters participated in the October 9 elections to select a new president and parliament members in one of the world’s poorest nations, despite its significant gas reserves.
Although official results are expected in two weeks, Mondlane, a prominent candidate aiming to succeed outgoing President Filipe Nyusi, announced his triumph on Facebook.
With only a small fraction of the votes counted, an independent observatory linked to Frelimo indicated that the party was currently leading the race.
While no major incidents were reported on election day, observers noted several irregularities, including voters with multiple ballots and restrictions on opposition monitors at polling stations.
"It's now that the fraud is going to start, with the progressive posting of results," said one analyst quoted by AFP who preferred to remain anonymous. "If Venancio shows a solid lead, the situation will become tense very quickly," he added.
