Maputo, 8 Nov (AIM) – The leader and presidential candidate of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), Lutero Simango, has warned that it may be necessary to cancel the general elections held on 9 October, and hold new elections.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Simango said that the problems of the country derive from bad policies, discrimination, the exclusion and marginalization of young people in the management of resources and the loss of credibility of public institutions.
But Simango argued that the most important cause leading to the demonstrations on Thursday, and the ensuing clashes with the police, was that the election results announced by the National Elections Commission (CNE) did not reflect the votes cast at the ballot box.
Like the other opposition parties, the MDM believes that the elections were marred by serious fraud.
To restore “electoral justice”, said Simango, the votes should be recounted – and if there was no agreement on that, then the elections held on 9 October should be annulled, and new polls organized.
He added that the use of force to repress the popular will only generate more violence.
If a dialogue proved possible, he added, it should be “inclusive, participatory and engaging”.
The fundamental cause of political tensions, said Simango, was “political intolerance”, associated with abuse of power and high levels of poverty.
(AIM)
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