Story by Wellington Makonese
Analysts predict victory for Mozambique’s ruling party Frelimo’s presidential Candidate Daniel Chapo over his opposition counterparts in next week’s elections.
Mozambique head for legislative and Presidential elections on the 9th of October with 4 candidates vying for the Presidential seat to succeed the incumbent Filipe Nyusi.
The four are Daniel Chapo of Frelimo, Venancio Mondlane, who is running as an independent, Ossufo Momade of the former rebel Renamo party and Lutero Simango of the Mozambique Democratic Movement. A total of 250 parliamentary seats are also up for grabs.
Analysts Tinashe Chuma and Carter Chapwanya predict victory for the ruling party citing its ability to stabilize insurgence, development prospects and capitalizing on Renamo’s disintegration
“Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo is likely going to win. However, definitely stiff competition is going to come in from Mondlane, who though being an independent candidate, seems quite popular with the voting LBA citizens of Mozambique. So with also the backing that he has, the democratic alliance movement, it presents a very interesting scenario. But with all indications, it seems Mondlane may lose to Chapo based also upon what Chapo is promising, the road development, the infrastructure development projects that he’s proposing to the Mozambican people. That seems to resonate well with all the masses, particularly in the north, which is highly concentrated, central and northern Mozambique, which whoever wins those provinces, the northern provinces as well as the central province, is likely going to be the president,” said Chuma.
“Unlike the many elections that we’ve witnessed in the region and beyond, the Mozambique election is promising to be quite cut and dry, a win for the Frelimo and Mr. Daniel Chapo at the helm. This is not to say there haven’t been some issues that have given voice to opposition parties like Renamo, which is being led by Mr. Ossufo Momade. There’s been talk of corruption, unemployment and lack of infrastructural development in some areas of the country, but these have not been enough to overshadow the many achievements of Frelimo, and it is showing in the general attitudes of the Mozambican people that come October 9, Frelimo will win the election once again,” Chapwanya weighed in.
The parties have utilised the 45-day campaign period to canvass votes among the estimated 17 million registered voters including those in neighboring countries.
