MBABANE: Mozambique’s ruling party candidate, Daniel Chapo, has been declared the winner of the country’s presidential election amid claims of rigging by the opposition, Aljazeera reported on Thursday evening.
“Chapo, from the Frelimo party which has been in power for almost half a century, secured more than 70 percent of the votes, the National Election Commission (CNE) said on Thursday.His main opponent, the independent candidate Venancio Mondlane, came second with more than 20 percent, while the candidate of the opposition party Renamo, Ossufo Momade, came third with more than five percent, according to the CNE.The results of the October 9 election mean the governing Front for the Liberation of Mozambique party, or Frelimo, has extended its 49 years in power since the southern African country gained independence from Portugal in 1975.
It then fought a bloody 15-year civil war against the rebel group Renamo, which later developed into the main opposition party”, reads the Aljazeera report.
Daniel Chapo leaves with his wife, Gueta Chapo after casting their vote during the general elections at Inhambane, in southern Mozambique, on October 9, 2024 [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters]