Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, woke up to destruction on Friday after protests that had turned violent overnight over the ruling party Frelimo’s reelection after 49 years in power.
In protest, hundreds of opposition supporters rejected what they described as a ballot “stolen” by an electoral commission that they said was “corrupt.” On Thursday, the committee declared that Daniel Chapo, the candidate, had won the October 9 election with 71% of the vote.
Thousands of people gathered in several cities as the electoral authorities, who are frequently accused of working in favour of Frelimo, announced the results.
Prior to his unexpected nomination as a candidate for the ruling Frelimo party, Chapo, a 47-year-old former regional governor with no prior experience in national leadership, was not well-known. In January, he will succeed President Filipe Nyusi.
Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, has who declared himself the winner and claimed irregularities, officially won just over 20 percent.
“We absolutely reject these results,” said Mondlane, who has urged demonstrations, during a Facebook live broadcast Thursday evening.
“They do not reflect the will of the people,” he added, calling the political situation in the southern African country “rotten, doctored and fake”.
A European Union poll observer mission earlier this month noted “irregularities during counting” and “net favouritism” in favour of Frelimo.
