Mozambique Political Process Bulletin

2008 Local Election Issue 17 – 1300 - 26 November 2008
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Published frequently during the election period
Editor: Joseph Hanlon (j.hanlon@open.ac.uk)
Deputy editor: Adriano Nuvunga – Research Assistant: Tania Frechauth
Published by AWEPA, the European Parliamentarians for Africa,
and CIP, Centro de Integridade Publica
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With requalified nulos included,
Nacala still unclear


After the requalification of invalid votes, based on the two different parallel counts, we estimate that the Frelimo candidate Chale Ossufo has either 49.86% or 49.80% of the vote – more than 100 votes short of what he needs to avoid a second round. Details are given in the attached file.


Our new estimate is based the requalification of invalid votes this morning by the National Elections Commission, which gave Chale Ossufo 868, Manuel dos Santos 431, Julio Cipriano 39 and Cesar Gabriel 72.


Requalification of the nulos is open to press and observers, and the Bulletin watched the entire requalification process for Nacala Porto. We consider that the process was correctly and consistently done. A surprisingly high 56% of nulos were accepted as valid, and most of them were obviously valid and it is not clear why the polling stations considered them invalid in the first place. For some, the decision was less clear-cut. For example, a ballot paper is considered invalid if it has any design or word. And the CNE team rejected any words, such as “voto”, and signatures. But single letters and scribbles made by illiterate voters were accepted, consistently and, in our view, correctly.


Decision on the second round depends on the official count as issued by the National Elections Commission, and that will be at least partly based on details of the voting results sheets (editais) being entered into a computer by the Nampula Provincial Election Commission. As of this morning (Tuesday), input of editais from Nacala had only stated, and may not be complete until later tomorrow (Wednesday).


Disqualified votes in the Ilha


Nulos for Ihla de Moçambique were also reconsidered this morning. The Bulletin saw what appeared to be a particularly flagrant example of valid votes which had been intentionally disqualified in the polling station. In this instance, a large number of ballot papers for Renamo had a second ink mark in a different colour ink. Normal inked fingerprints look brown on the ballot paper, but the second mark on these ballot papers was done with purple ink.


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Mozambique Political Process Bulletin
Editor: Joseph Hanlon (j.hanlon@open.ac.uk)
Deputy editor: Adriano Nuvunga -- Research assistant: Tania Frechauth
Material may be freely reprinted and circulated. Please cite the Bulletin.
Published by AWEPA, the European Parliamentarians for Africa,
and CIP, Centro de Integridade Publica
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Also on the web: Tambem na internet:
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Em Portugues: http://www.cip.org.mz/pub2008/
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This mailing is the personal responsibility of Joseph Hanlon, and does not necessarily represent the views of the Open University.
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