Frelimo wins, Chapo president, new opposition leader — and streets on fire in Mozambique

Elections Commission acknowledged irregularities in the electoral process, but says that these “did not influence” the final result. Renamo dethroned from opposition leadership. Is there a “chaos scenario” coming to Mozambique?

The Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), in power for half a century, won the October 9 elections with absolute majorityguaranteeing 171 deputies. The newcomer Can we elected 43 depots, dethroning Renamo as the leader of the opposition, according to the results proclaimed by the president of the Constitutional Council (CC).

Frelimo remains with a parliamentary majority, with 24 fewer deputies than previously announced on October 24 by the National Elections Commission (CNE).

The Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos), until now extra-parliamentary and which supported Venâncio Mondlane’s presidential candidacy, came in second place, gaining status as the main opposition party, with 43 deputies, 12 more in relation to those previously announced by the CNE.

According to the results proclaimed by the CC, the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) lost its status as the largest opposition party, with 28 deputies elected, eight more in relation to the data previously announced by the CNE.

For its part, the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) maintains parliamentary representation, with eight deputies, four more in relation to the data released on October 24 by the National Elections Commission.

Chapo president (despite irregularities)

The Constitutional Council of Mozambique proclaimed Daniel Chapocandidate supported by Frelimo, as winner of the election for President of the Republic, with 65.17% of the votessucceeding Filipe Nyusi in the position.

“Citizen Daniel Francisco Chapo is elected President of the Republic of Mozambique”, announced the president of the Constitutional Council, Lúcia Ribeiro, after an hour and a half of reading the proclamation ruling, in which recognized irregularities in the electoral processbut which “did not influence” the final result.

According to the results, Venâncio Mondlane recorded 24.19% of the votesOssufo Momade 6.62% and Lutero Simango 4.02%.

The proclamation of these results confirms the victory of the 47-year-old jurist, announced on October 24 by the CNE, but at the time with 70.67%.

The new president called this Monday in Maputo for dialogue, which he stressed was “the key to overcoming” differences.

“The time has come to think calmly and serenely about the best way to create a democratic reality that represents the richness and diversity of the country. This dialogue is key to overcoming our differences”, he stated.

Maputo in flames

As in October, the new CNE announcement led protesters, supporters of Venâncio Mondlane, to protest in the streets, with burning tiresafter practically two months of violent demonstrations and strikes, called by Mondlane, who did not recognize them, causing at least 130 dead in clashes with the police.

🌍 Maputo in Flames: A Nation at a Crossroads

From the serene bay of Catembe, the city of Maputo is now shrouded in black smoke—a stark symbol of the unrest sparked by the validation of fraudulent electoral results by the Constitutional Council.

As tensions escalate, one…

— Prof. Adriano Nuvunga (@adriano_nuvunga)

Venâncio Mondlane had come in second place, with 20.32%, according to the CNE’s previous announcement. Ossufo Momade, president of Renamo, until now the largest opposition party, followed, with 403,591 votes (5.81%), followed by Lutero Simango, president of MDM, with 223,066 votes (3.21%).

Mondlane, Chapo’s main rival, warned that confirmation of Frelimo’s victory could lead the country to a “chaos” scenario.

The general elections on October 9 included the seventh presidential elections — in which the current head of state, Filipe Nyusi, who reached the two-term limit, no longer ran — simultaneously with legislative elections and for provincial assemblies and governors.