Two members of the IMBISA Secretariat, Brenda Gwasira and António Pelágio, participated in the electoral observation, held in Maputo/Mozambique, on October 6-11, 2024.
The observation was carried out at Assemblys number 010010-01, Escola Primária de Mocambique/Khovo, Maputo – Cidade Kampfumu, Assembly number 010366-03 and at the Assembly of the 25 de Setembro school.
On October 9th, 17 million Mozambicans were called to the polls to vote in the general elections for the President of the Republic, the Assembly of the Republic (250 seats), ten Provincial Assemblies and ten Provincial Governors. Following the controversial local elections held in 2023, with widespread irregularities reported by national observers and civil society, the elections took place in a context of great discontent, and a strong popular demand for strengthening the rule of law and greater transparency in electoral administration.
The presidential elections were contested by four candidates: Daniel Chapo, from the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO), in power for 49 years, Ossufo Momade, from the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO), Lutero Simango, from the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) and Venâncio Mondlane, independent candidate with the formal support of Povo Optimista para o Desenvolvimento de Moçambique (PODEMOS).
Despite taking place in a context of public distrust, and the credibility of the electoral process being affected, it can be said that, from what we observed, the vote was peaceful and orderly.
- The polling station started operating at 7:15 am, due to delays in preparing the polling station, which resulted in a lot of flooding on the outskirts of the school.
- Observers and delegates were authorized to enter the table before 7am, to observe the preparations for the opening.
- The ballot box was shown empty to everyone present and sealed before voting began.
- There were all the necessary materials and in sufficient quantity to start voting.
However, we need to say that, from our observation, the majority of opposition political parties expressed a lack of confidence in the impartiality and independence of the CNE and STAE, as well as in their ability to monitor and conduct the electoral process in an independent and transparent manner. . There was a notable lack of confidence in the reliability of the electoral rolls, given the discrepancies between INE’s population projections and the electoral rolls
In general, the electoral administration bodies, the CNE (National Elections Commission) and the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE), conducted the vote in an organized manner, at least in the assemblies we attended.
Electoral bodies encountered several difficulties during the electoral process, including budgetary constraints.
On election day, IMBISA observers visited 3 polling stations in Maputo, Guacheni and Katembe district alone. Almost all polling stations observed by IMBISA opened on time, only one opened 15 minutes late. Polling station staff were not always well informed in some of the polling stations observed. There were no delegates from opposition parties at some polling stations observed. Voting took place calmly and procedures were mostly followed during voting.
In coordination with observers from the CEM National Justice and Peace Commission, as IMBISA observers we also mentioned that some voters were not finding the tables where they should vote,
- The counting of votes was slow, disorganized and prolonged.
- There was a lack of clarity and integrity in the counting process, based on the report presented by some CNJP observer members.
- Another thing to report is some disorganization in the queues.
- The police were almost around the polling stations in Guacheni.