Maputo, 17 Oct (AIM) – The United States embassy in Maputo has called on the electoral authorities, local courts and the Constitutional Council to take seriously all complaints of irregularities in the municipal elections held in Mozambique on 11 October, and to act impartially.
According to a Monday press release, the US embassy says that “a clean, transparent and peaceful electoral process is essential for the future of Mozambique’s multi-party democracy.”
It also called on the National Elections Commission (CNE) to ensure that all votes are counted accurately and transparently.
The release says that the US embassy joined accredited national and international observers to monitor the elections in 12 municipalities in the northern, central and southern provinces.
“Based on reports from the US Embassy and other observers, local media, party delegates, election officials and civil society organizations, voting day in the 65 municipalities was generally peaceful, but there are many credible reports of irregularities on voting day and during the vote tabulation process”, said the release.
Mozambique’s main opposition party, Renamo, has rejected the results so far announced for the municipal elections, but has ruled out any return to war. The members of the party and its sympathizers have been holding daily marches as a way of contesting the results, and warn that these marches will continue until the Renamo victory is recognised.
(AIM)
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