Saying there were voting irregularities in every province, the European Union emphatically concluded Mozambique’s recent elections were rigged to guarantee the ruling Frelimo party an easy win.
In a report released on Wednesday, the EU was especially critical of irregularities in opposition strongholds, which it said benefitted Frelimo and its candidates.
“There was an astonishing reversal of results in Sofala, Nampula and Zambézia and in opposition districts within the provinces of Manica, Tete and Niassa (such as Báruè, Tsangano and Ngaúma, respectively,” the EU report said. “Such sudden, targeted, and significant shifts in voting preferences, strictly limited to opposition districts and contradicting the 2018 municipal election results, are highly unlikely given the polarised political environment and deeply entrenched voting preferences.”
But despite the EU’s damning conclusions about the results, African election observers and many African heads of state accept the outcome.
Mozambique’s opposition has called for the results of recent elections to be annulled.
It was hoped the elections would help create a working relationship between Frelimo and members of the opposition Renamo party and bring peace to the southern African nation.
Government leaders have yet to respond to the EU’s claims.
