Mozambique Political Process Bulletin 2008

2008 Local Election Issue 13 – 1600, 21 November 2008
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Published frequently during the election period
Editor: Joseph Hanlon (j.hanlon@open.ac.uk) – Deputy editor: Adriano Nuvunga
Published by AWEPA, the European Parliamentarians for Africa, and CIP, Centro de Integridade Publica
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The most recent provisional results for 37 municipalities, as of 1400 on Friday 21 November, are attached.

Second round in Nacala?

Unofficial results suggest that there will be a second round of voting for Nacala mayor. The Frelimo candidate is slightly ahead, but appears not to have gained more than half the votes, because there were two other candidates in the race. This would be the first time in Mozambique that there would have to be a second round of voting.

Renamo accepts that the Frelimo candidate, Chale Ossufo, had the largest vote, 21,870, but says this is only 49.5% of the total valid vote. Renamo claims 21,357 (48.3%) for its candidate Manuel dos Santos, the present mayor. Our correspondent in Nacala gives slightly different but similar figures, 21,853 (Frelimo) and 21,523 (Renamo) – differences of only 350 or 500 votes. The Renamo figures were given by Renamo’s National Head of Organisation and Statistics, Francisco Mainde. Even other unofficial figures put Frelimo closer to 50%

The electoral law says that if no candidate receives more than half the valid votes, then there is a second election between the two candidates with most votes. This must be within 30 days of the publication of the final results, which would mean late December or early January.

But the result is so close that the decision on a second round may depend on the requalification of invalid votes (nulos) by the National Election Commission.

No majority in Beira assembly

Based on 60% of the votes, the distribution of seats in the Beira municipal assembly would be Frelimo 20, Renamo 16, GDB 7, and PIMO and PDD 1 each. No party would have a majority.

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Mozambique Political Process Bulletin
Editor: Joseph Hanlon (j.hanlon@open.ac.uk)
Deputy editor: Adriano Nuvunga
Material may be freely reprinted and circulated. Please cite the Bulletin.
Published by AWEPA, the European Parliamentarians for Africa, and CIP, Centro de Integridade Pública
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