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Mozambique: Voters cast their ballots in the Presidential and general election
“Jobs, jobs. There are many graduates on the streets, some doing work that is unrelated to what they studied,” he said.
According to Nelson Alusala, a researcher with the South African-based Institute of Security Studies, “Mozambicans may be attracted to RENAMO for the simple reason of wanting change,” he said. At the same time the fledgling MDM, led by the mayor of the second largest city of Beira, is gaining popularity.
Formed 5 years ago, the MDM gained 38 percent of the urban vote in last December’s municipal elections.
The presidential race pits FRELIMO’s Filipe Nyusi, the former defence minister who is making his first bid for the country’s top job, against RENAMO’s veteran leader Afonso Dhlakama and MDM founder Daviz Simango.
If none of the three garners more than 50 percent of the vote, a run-off will be held within 30 days after official final results.
In the parliamentary race, FRELIMO is seeking to defend its 191 seats in Mozambique’s 250-seat assembly. The government amended election laws earlier this year as part of peace negotiations with RENAMO, which demanded that the opposition be given greater control over the electoral process in bid to improve transparency.
Parties have the right to nominate staff and observers at polling stations and have more members sitting on the electoral commission.
Official results are expected 15 days after polling.
Source: AFP
