Presidential campaigns kick off in Mozambique

Mozambique is currently in the midst of a 45-day election campaign to select its next president, as President Filipe Nyusi prepares to step down in January, completing his second five-year term.

On October 9, more than 17 million registered voters will cast their ballots to elect the country’s new president and 250 members of parliament.

Daniel Chapo, the presidential candidate for the ruling Frelimo party, is expected to face strong competition from Venâncio Mondlane, an independent candidate. The other contenders are Ossufo Momade, representing the former rebel group Renamo, and Lutero Simango of the Mozambique Democratic Movement.

Whoever wins the election will be tasked with addressing the ongoing insurgency in the resource-rich province of Cabo Delgado, as well as tackling widespread corruption.

Campaigning in Beira, a key port city, Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo highlighted his background, noting that he was born into a poor family that endured two years of captivity during Mozambique’s civil war. Chapo emphasized that his life experiences have shaped him into a public servant determined to improve the country’s economic conditions.

“We aim to reduce bureaucracy, fight corruption, and create laws that foster a positive business environment,” Chapo said. “This will attract both local and international investors, leading to more jobs, higher wages, and greater tax revenues for Mozambique.”

Mondlane, running under the slogan “Save Mozambique!, this country is ours!”, began his campaign in a suburb of Maputo. He pledged to create a transparent and accountable government and lift Mozambique out of poverty.

“We need to end the dominance of political parties in government,” Mondlane said. “Our vision is for a clean, people-centered state, where resources from the provinces are reinvested in local projects to drive regional development.”

These upcoming elections mark Mozambique’s seventh since it transitioned to multiparty democracy in 1994, following the 1992 peace agreement with Renamo that ended a brutal 16-year civil war, which claimed an estimated one million lives. Since then, Renamo has yet to secure a national victory, while Frelimo has maintained its grip on power since Mozambique gained independence in 1975.