MBABANE: Mozambican leaders in Eswatini are criss-crossing the country to whip up enthusiasm for their countrymen to come out and vote in Mozambique presidential and parliamentary elections next Wednesday.
A leader of the Mozambican community in Eswatini, Domingo Thomo anticipates there will be as many as 5 thousand registered voters who might cast their vote from Eswatini. Mr Thomo’s team has travelled to all corners of the country to mobilize their countrymen for the elections and set up polling stations where their people will vote. “We are grateful for the support of the Government of Eswatini that by agreement with the Mozambique Government has enabled us to reach out and register all Mozambicans and provide Mozambique IDs to even those who had no documents. This was necessary to then register them for both the presidential and parliamentary elections.”
Mr. Thomo says voting stations have been set up in all major centres in Nhlangano, Siteki, Big Bend, Manzini, Mbabane and Pigg’s Peak so that those that want to vote will be able to do so close to where they are. “We are appealing to employers please note the elections date and to release Mozambicans working for them so that they can discharge their country duty. On 9th September please release your worker to go vote. Allow them to go vote, it’s their right.”
Mr. Thomo expects about 5000 people to go to the polls in the Kingdom though this will likely be less than the turnout seen in the 2019 elections. Before Covid 19, there were by far more than 5000 people. But many people left and returned home during the Covid-19 lockdown. Many Mozambicans are self-employed and lockdown killed their businesses so most could not cope and returned home.
Voters will be electing the successor to outgoing President Filipe Nyusi, whose two terms have expired. Frelimo is fielding Daniel Chapo, 47, until now the governor of the Inhambane Province in Southern Mozambique. He is expected to handily beat the 63-year-old Ossufo Momade who leads RENAMO. FRELIMO and RENAMO fought a bloody decade-long civil war that only ended after Frelimo leader Samora Machel was eliminated in a plane crash at Mbuzini on the border between Mozambique, South Africa and Eswatini. RENAMO subsequently renounced violence and demobilized to become Mozambique’s main opposition political party.
But also running as an independent is Venancio Mondlane, a former member of RENAMO who quit to join the elections under the Democratic Alliance Coalition (CAD) and became an independent when elections authorities withdrew recognition of this party. He is seen as a rising star in Mozambican politics and believed popular among the youth.
Jm/today/30.10.2024
