Mozambique’s main party stays in power after a controversial election

Despite accusations of fraud, Frelimo, the ruling party of Mozambique, has extended its five-decade control in the Southern African State by winning this month’s national election.

Daniel Chapo, 47, of Frelimo, will become Mozambique’s fifth president since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975 when he succeeds President Filipe Nyusi. After serving the maximum of two terms, Nyusi is resigning.

The electoral commission said on Thursday that Chapo had received more than 70% of the vote. Renamo, the previous rebel movement that had been the official opposition party but whose candidate finished third this time, was displaced by Venancio Mondlane, who was supported by the Podemos party and came in second with 20% of the vote.

The election on October 9 was not free and fair, according to observers. Since Frelimo initially permitted multi-party elections in 1994, most polls have been plagued by issues, including errors throughout the counting process and results manipulation at the local and district levels, according to a European Union mission.

Regarding claims of vote tampering, the election commission has refrained from commenting.

On Thursday and Friday, Mondlane, who says he is the real victor, has already called for protests around the country. In Mozambique, police typically use force to quell political protests.

As a lawyer, Chapo is viewed as a business-friendly pick who, according to observers, is likely to keep things as they are in terms of fighting Islamist rebels in the north and forming alliances with firms like Exxon Mobil and TotalEnergies who are attempting to launch large gas projects.

The almost 35-million-person nation is dealing with mounting debt and escalating climate shocks like cyclones and drought.