
Maputo, 23 Sep (AIM) – Disinformation circulating on Mozambican social media is urging supporters of the main opposition party, Renamo, to cast their votes in the forthcoming general election on 10 October.
Anyone who tries to follow this advice will be sorely disappointed, since the election will be on 9 October and only lasts for one day.
The disinformation message states in full: “Congratulations! The CNE (National Elections Commission) has decided that, in order to avoid fraud, those who are voting for Renamo and for Ossufo Momade (the Renamo leader and presidential candidate), will vote on 10 October. The Renamo votes will be in special ballot boxes”.
The fact checking service of the Mozambican chapter of the regional press freedom body MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa) points out that this is entirely false.
“There is no decision taken by the CNE to separate voting by party or candidate”, MISA stressed. The presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections remain fixed for just one day, 9 October.
The claim that there will be separate ballot boxes, just for Renamo votes, is equally false. All votes for all parties go into the same ballot boxes (although there will be separate boxes for the three types of election – presidential, parliamentary and provincial.
(AIM)
Pf/ (212)