OWN CORRESPONDENT, Maputo | Saturday 3.30pm
MOZAMBIQUE’S National Elections Commission (CNE) announced on Saturday it is extending voting in its presidential and legislative elections through Sunday to give all eligible citizens the opportunity to cast their ballots.
Jamisse Uilson Taimo, the CNE chairman, told reporters that the decision to extend the voting — initially scheduled for only Friday and Saturday — follows reports from around the country of delays in opening polling stations.
Polls would now close Sunday at 6:00pm, Taimo said. Road conditions and rain have impeded access to many remote rural areas. President Joaquim Chissano is expected to return to office in the second multi-party presidential poll since the end of a 16-year civil war in 1992.
But his ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) faced a serious opposition challenge in parliament from former rebel chief Afonso Dhlakama. Results of the polls are not expected until December 19.
Most problems were registered in the central and northern provinces of Zambezia and Cabo Delgado, officials said.
In Lugela, Pebane and Gurue districts of Zambezia, 70 polling stations failed to open on Friday. Electoral officials estimated the size of the affected electorate in the three areas at 35000.
In Cabo Delgado province, the main trouble was registered in the coastal district of Quissanga with striking policemen refusing to escort polling materials. More helicopters had to be mobilised to airlift the materials, polling officials and observers. Taimo said the turnout was very high in areas where there were no logistical constraints, mainly urban areas.– AFP