Vista frontal do edificio do Conselho
Maputo, 14 Nov (AIM) – Mozambique’s Constitutional Council, the country’s highest body in matters of constitutional and electoral law, has asked the main opposition party, Renamo, to provide its copies of the results sheets (editais) and minutes from the polling stations in the city of Matola.
At each polling station, after the count, a set of minutes and an edital are drawn up. Signed and stamped copies of these documents should be delivered to all the parties contesting the elections.
The Matola City Elections Commission declared that the ruling Frelimo Party won in Matola in the 11 October municipal elections, and the National Elections Commission (CNE) simply rubber-stamped the City Commission’s declaration – despite the credible parallel vote counts which showed that Renamo had won.
The fact that the Constitutional Council has asked Renamo for its copies of the Matola editais indicate that it does not trust the documents provided by the CNE.
The Renamo candidate for Mayor of Matola, Antonio Muchanga, announced on Monday, that the Council had notified Renamo to hand over its copies of the results sheets.
Speaking at a Renamo march in the Matola neighbourhood of Machava, protesting at what the party regards as fraudulent results, Muchanga was pleased that the Council will now look at the editais in Renamo’s possession.
“The Constitutional Council has now begun to follow the steps which the law recommends”, he said, cited by the independent television station STV. “The District Court should have asked for the editais that are in the hands of the parties. Regrettably, this did not happen”.
He was optimistic that “if there is common sense, then Renamo will be declared the winner of the municipal election” (which would mean that, for the first time ever, Frelimo will lose control of Matola, and the city will have a mayor from the opposition).
But if the Council decides in favour of Frelimo, Muchanga warned, Renamo will take “new measures” to oppose the results.
He added that Renamo members are suffering anonymous threats. Despite this, he pledged that Renamo’s protests will continue.
The results announced by the CNE are preliminary. Only when the Constitutional Council has validated them do the results become definitive. There is as yet no date for the Council to give its final ruling.
(AIM)
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