EDITORIAL COMMENT: Mozambique election peace laudable

MozambiqueAn estimated 10,8 million Mozambicans were expected to vote in a harmonised election yesterday to pick their president, parliament and provincial assemblies.
The protagonists are Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, 55, of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) leader, Daviz Simango and on-off rebel commander, Afonso Dhlakama, 61, of Renamo.

Nyusi, as a representative of the incumbent party, which has ruled our eastern neighbour for 39 years, is a clear favourite to win the presidency, by miles. His party is widely expected to win parliament and provincial elections too. Simango, the youngest of the leading presidential candidates at 50, won election as the mayor of Beira on a Renamo ticket in 2003. He broke away to run as an independent candidate in 2008 and was re-elected in 2013.

Dhlakama was in the forest until about a month ago, threatening to re-launch another civil war against Frelimo. He caused some turbulence, which actually left a few dozen people dead, but was cajoled back from the wild following a peace agreement he signed with Frelimo.

He and Simango concentrated their campaigns on criticising what they think is the stranglehold Frelimo has long maintained over political and economic power in Mozambique. They promised to open up government and institute an inclusive political culture.

Nyusi was promising continuity of government programmes including efforts to maintain peace and the economic revival that should be hastened by that country’s huge oil and gas finds off shore.

Voters were also electing 250 deputies of the national parliament and 980 members of provincial assemblies out of 27 political parties, two coalitions and one citizens association. About 17,000 polling stations were set up, manned by 130,000 officials.

Simango won 8,6 percent of the vote in the last presidential election with Dhlakama getting 16 percent. Frelimo’s President Armando Guebuza, from whom Nyusi has taken over, polled just under 75 percent.

We congratulate the Mozambican people and their political leadership for a largely peaceful campaign that started in late August and ended at the weekend. In fact, it was fun to some degree as at one point archrivals, Frelimo and Renamo representatives played a football match in Vilanculos, Inhambane province. The teams used their party campaign regalia as their match uniforms. The game, played in a good-natured atmosphere ended in a fair result, a 2-2 draw. That was a good statement, we believe, to calm nerves after the peace deal and coming on the eve of an election.

However, there were some clashes down south in Gaza province last month pitting Frelimo partisans and those of the emerging MDM.

By and large, they had a quiet campaign, and yesterday, the polling was also quite orderly and incident-free.

Prime Minister Alberto Vaquina said voting was, by afternoon yesterday, running well countrywide.

“Today’s an important day for the growth of democratic experience,” he said. “We’re all called to decide the future of our country. It’s important to call everyone to exercise their voting rights because the right determines our life and future.

“We believe that the calm and tranquility that characterise the process will last until the voting is officially closed, so we appeal to every eligible voter to head to the polling stations as early as possible to avoid any possibility of creating tensions at the dying hours of the process which may consequently generate violence.”

Like the outgoing Prime Minister, we hope for an equally peaceful aftermath. Vote counting should start soon, and results announced. There will only be one winner in that election, so those who are going to lose must accept the decision of their people and move on.

We don’t see any substantive areas of concern that favour any of the contesting parties. Conditions didn’t give an unfair advantage or disadvantage to anyone; therefore the results will be representative of the will of the Mozambican voting population. Dhlakama must shun his tendency of always starting fires whenever he feels like.

Peace must be kept for the economy to continue on the growth path it has been in recent years. Mozambique has been one of the few African countries to register consistent economic growth lately, propelled mainly by the extractive sector. It is unfortunate that that country has been an archetype of a poor country despite the fact that she is endowed with so many resources. That perception is beginning to change and practical conditions on the ground as well, fortunately.

But only a stable political environment can guarantee a sound economy.

You Might Also Like

Comments