MAPUTO, Mozambique – In a recent development, the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG), monitoring the October 9 polls, has issued an interim statement urging restraint as Mozambique awaits the election results.
The interim statement praised the citizens of Mozambique for their peaceful exercise of the democratic voting process, despite facing some security issues, particularly in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, and the challenges related to the municipal elections scheduled for November 2023.
While the Mozambique National Election Commission (CNE) has yet to release the results, the chairperson of the COG emphasized the importance of calm during this period. The chairperson stated:
“As the results process moves forward, we urge all political party leaders and their supporters to maintain restraint, embrace peace, and prioritize national unity and stability. It is our hope that Mozambique will learn from past experiences to ensure that each subsequent election is an improvement.”
“We also call on the CNE to ensure the results announcement is conducted with the utmost diligence and transparency.”
The COG’s report indicated a significant achievement for Mozambique, noting a 42 percent representation of women in the National Assembly, moving closer to the 50/50 gender parity goal. The report stated:
“Women represented 53 percent of all registered voters, a positive trend. It is encouraging to see major political parties taking steps to involve women in the electoral process through the implementation of quotas.”
The group raised concerns regarding allegations of electoral malpractices, which have circulated widely among stakeholders. These allegations echo issues noted by Commonwealth observers in 2019 and include instances of ballot stuffing, spoiled ballots, citizens found with unmarked and pre-marked ballots, registered voters being struck off the registry, and unregistered individuals attempting to vote. The COG is calling for appropriate authorities to investigate these claims.
The COG will continue to monitor the results process, with a comprehensive assessment and recommendations for improvements to be included in its final report, which will be made public in due course.
Related: COG actively monitoring Mozambique’s elections for transparency and integrity
