The Constitutional Council today confirmed widespread fraud in the 11 October municipal elections. The CC declared Renamo the winner in Chíure, Quelimane, Alto Molocue and Vilankulo. And in what seems a clear political compromise, the CC declared Frelimo the winner in Maputo and Matola, but admitted 78,000 fraudulent votes and gave Renamo 9 more city assembly seats.
There will be a new election in Marromeu and new elections in some polling stations in Nacala-Porto, Milange, and Gurue. These elections will be on Sunday 3 December, the second Sunday after the CC decision. Results in these four municipalities will only be declared after the repeat elections.
In Maputo, the CC took 29,000 votes and 6 assembly seats fraudulently given to Frelimo and gave them instead to Renamo. In Matola, the CC took away 49,000 votes fraudulently given to Frelimo – 24% of all the votes given to Frelimo by the CDE and CNE – and 5 assembly seats, and gave 1 seat to MDM and 4 to Renamo. Extra seats were given to MDM and Renamo in Xai Xai, Matola Rio, and Marracuene without changing the result.
