By Charles Mangwiro
Maputo - Mozambican President Armando Guebuza appeared headed for victory in an election on Thursday that would also see his party winning parliamentary and provincial polls.
Partial results showed Guebuza, seen as welcoming of greater foreign investment, taking a strong lead over his rivals, longtime opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama, and the head of a new party, Daviz Simango.
But millionaire businessman Guebuza and his ruling Frelimo party are expected to face pressure to provide poor Mozambicans with the benefits of tourism and untapped mineral and energy resources that have started to draw foreign companies and investors, particularly from neighbouring South Africa.
Continues Below ↓
"We've just started counting the votes, these are partial results from the districts and towns with easy access of roads," said Lucas Jose, spokesperson for the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE). He said final official results are not expected until November 12.
The Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), a splinter of Renamo, a former rebel movement and now the main opposition, had been seen running close to Guebuza until many of its candidates were barred from the contest due to registration irregularities.
That raised questions over the integrity of the polls.
Analysts say opposition parties are too disorganised to make an impact - though they may gain ground in the long term - but, even so, they do not expect Guebuza to get an absolute majority in parliament.
In a sign that Guebuza now has to accommodate a new generation that was not born in the liberation struggle nor the 16-year civil war against Renamo, many youths thronged polling stations in scorching heat, hoping to bring change.
Nearly 30 parties registered for the poll, but the election commission allowed candidates from only 19 to run.
Continues...
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
