Campaign opens slowly
Fear in Cabo Delgado, some violence, vandalising posters and misusing state cars
The electoral campaign started slowly this weekend. Parties are afraid to campaign in Cabo Delgado. There have been a few violent confrontations. As is common in Mozambican electoral campaigns, there are numerous reports of vandalizing posters of other parties, putting posters in improper places such on road signs, and of Frelimo improperly using state cars in the campaign. The formal campaign opened Saturday and continues to 6 October. There is no campaigning 7 and 8 October and voting is on 9 October.
Reports are from our more than 500 correspondents, spread over 154 districts. There are CIPEleiçõesvideos on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFskQmYOyvw and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opc9FRP6ji4
Except for Frelimo, which has access to state resources, campaigning began slowly. Some parties, such as the MDM, Podemos, and New Democracy (ND) have not yet begun their election campaign activities in many districts.
Three of the four presidential candidates campaigned on Saturday. Both the Frelimo and the MDM candidates, Daniel Chapo and Lutero Simango, launched their campaigns in Beira, while the independent candidate, Venancio Mondlane, began in Matola. But the fourth candidate, Renamo leader Ossufo Momade, did not campaign on Saturday.
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Insurgency threatens the election campaign in Cabo Delgado
Some parties report they are afraid to campaign in Cabo Delgado districts affected by the insurgency, particularly in Muidumbe, Quissanga, Chiure, Macomia, Mocimboa da Praia, Palma and Nangade districts. In Muidumbe, Renamo says it has not started its campaign yet, both because of the lack of campaign material, and because of worry about insurgents.
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Destruction of campaign materials continues
On the first day of the campaign more than 20 cases were recorded of the vandalisation of election campaign materials. Frelimo is the party that suffered most from destruction of its materials, followed by Renamo and then by the MDM.
In Matola-Rio, Maputo province, hundreds of Frelimo posters were vandalised. In Magude, also Maputo province, members of Frelimo vandalised election material, and provoked supporters of Renamo. The two sides came close to physical assaults. One member of Frelimo threatened supporters of Renamo with a machete.
Cases were also reported of campaign materials being posted in inappropriate places, such as on top of traffic signs (below), on private homes and on public statutes (Samora Machel, below).
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Use of state-owned vehicles
Our correspondents reported four cases of the use of State vehicles on Saturday in Chongoene (Gaza), Beira (Sofala), Quelimane (Zambézia), Nangade and Ibo (Cabo Delgado). In Gaza and Cabo Delgado the vehicles were used by Frelimo, and in Sofala and Zambézia by the MDM and Renamo, respectively.
On Sunday there were reports of the use of state assets by Frelimo for its political activities. One of these cases was registered in Morrumbala, in Zambézia, where Frelimo is using a Land Cruiser vehicle from the Morrumbala District Hospital, with the number plate AHP 132 MC, and another vehicle from the Morrumbala District Directorate of Education, Youth and Technology. This is a white Toyota Hilux, with the number plate hidden by a Frelimo flag.
