Mozambique’s ruling party enjoyed a firm lead in early election returns on Thursday, the day after the Southern African country went to the polls in its fourth democratic elections, local media said.
Incumbent President Armando Guebuza and ruling party Frelimo were comfortably ahead as results began coming in, according to reports in both independent and state media.
”Only a miracle can prevent Frelimo’s candidate [Guebuza] from celebrating victory,” said independent newspaper O Pais.
The state radio station, Radio Mocambique, reported district-by-district results on Thursday morning that placed Guebuza and Frelimo ahead in nearly every constituency.
Frelimo, the party that has ruled Mozambique since independence in 1975, had been widely expected to claim an easy victory in the wake of a recent opposition split.
O Pais‘ analysis of the early returns placed Afonso Dhlakama, the long-time leader of opposition party Renamo, behind his protege-turned-rival Daviz Simango, founder of the breakaway Democratic Movement of Mozambique.
”Guebuza leads and Daviz sinks Dhlakama,” read the paper’s headline.
”Partial poll results show an interesting trend: Guebuza still has no opponent and Dhlakama takes third place,” it said.
However, the newspaper’s count included less than one percent of the total polling stations.
State newspaper Noticias reported voter turnout had been higher than in 2004, when participation was 36% — down from 80% at Mozambique’s first democratic polls in 1994.
”Voter turnout was considerably higher than in 2004,” election official Felisberto Naife told Noticias, without citing specific numbers.
Election officials said they expected preliminary official results later on Thursday.
The final results and distribution of parliamentary seats are due to be announced by November 12. — AFP
