Frelimo presidential candidate submits nomination papers

Maputo, 5 Jun (AIM) – The candidate of Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo Party for the presidential election scheduled for 9 October, Daniel Chapo, on Wednesday submitted his nomination papers to the Maputo headquarters of the Constitutional Council, the country’s highest body in matters or constitutional and electoral law.

His election agent, Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo, delivered files containing 20,000 supporting signatures from registered voters. This is the maximum that the Council will accept (the minimum required is 10,000). Macamo said that signatures had been collected from all of the country’s districts.

The Council will now check all of the signatures against its data base of voters, ensuring that each of them has a valid name and voter card number, and has been recognised by a notary.

The other documents submitted by Chapo include photocopies of his identity card and voter card, his criminal record certificate, and a letter accepting his nomination.

The candidates for the two main opposition parties, Ossufo Momade of Renamo, and Lutero Simango of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), have already submitted their nomination papers.

Venancio Mondlane, who was the Renamo candidate for mayor of Maputo in last year’s municipal elections, is running as an independent, and will deliver his papers to the Constitutional Council on Thursday.

There are also three candidates from minor parties – past experience, however, suggests that many of their supporting signatures will prove invalid, and so will be rejected by the Council.

(AIM)

Pf/ (243)