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Mozambique’s ruling party, Frelimo, has won the country’s divisive, violence-marred election, extending its 49-year grip on power in the southern African nation, according to official results. <\/p>\n
Daniel Chapo, Frelimo’s relatively unknown presidential candidate, seen as an agent of change, will replace Filipe Nyusi, who has served two terms. <\/p>\n
At 47, Chapo, who gained 71% of the vote, will be the first president born after independence in 1975. His closest challenger, Venancio Mondlane got 20%.<\/p>\n
Chapo said in his victory speech: \u201cWe remained silent all this time, for respecting the law. We are an organised party that prepares its victories.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Following the announcement of the result, there have been violent protests in several towns and a number of <\/b>people have been killed. There is also heavy police presence in some areas.<\/p>\n
The election has been marred by allegations of rigging and the killing of opposition supporters, prompting protests across the country. <\/p>\n
Zimbabwe’s President Mnangagwa, who has also been hit by allegations of election fraud over the years, prematurely congratulated Chapo on his \u201cresounding victory\u201d, even before the results were announced. <\/p>\n
Ossufo Momade, the candidate of former rebel group Renamo, which was previously the main opposition party, came in third with 6%. <\/p>\n
Political analyst Tomas Viera Mario told the BBC that Renamo had lost its \u201chistorical position\u201d because Momade, 68, had failed to attract young voters. <\/p>\n
The numbers announced surprised all voters, including some members and sympathisers of the ruling party, especially Frelimo’s landslide victory.<\/p>\n
The deputy chairperson of the electoral commission Fernando Mazanga, who was appointed by Renamo, said the \u201cresults are against electoral justice”.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese results do not represent the reality,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The electoral commission says 43% of the more than 17 million registered voters took part in the poll. <\/p>\n
Parliamentary and provincial elections were held at the same time as the presidential vote. <\/p>\n
Frelimo won 195 of the 250 seats in parliament. The opposition Podemos, which backed Mondlane for president, got 31 seats and Renamo secured 20 seats.<\/p>\n
Frelimo also won all the provincial elections. <\/p>\n
President Nyusi followed the election results with a jubilant television address to the nation. <\/p>\n
“With more than 70% of the votes, I don\u2019t see any teacher failing a student,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The election had been seen as a turning-point for the resource-rich country which is wracked by economic problems, corruption, and poverty.<\/p>\n
Mondlane had called for a national strike on Thursday in protest at the alleged rigging. <\/p>\n
He said that the protests would honour his lawyer and a party official who were shot dead last week in what he described as politically motivated killings.<\/p>\n
He claimed that he won the election despite preliminary polls showing that Chapo was well ahead.<\/p>\n
Mondlane now has until December to contest the results.<\/p>\n
On Monday, he organised nationwide demonstrations, which were dispersed by police firing live rounds and tear gas. <\/p>\n
The election has also been criticised by EU election observers, who said some results may have been doctored.<\/p>\n
They said there were \u201cirregularities during counting and unjustified alteration of election results\u201d. <\/p>\n
Political analyst Adriano Nuvunga decried what he called a pattern of fraudulent elections in Mozambique.<\/p>\n
The electoral commission has declined to comment on allegations of vote-rigging, according to Reuters. <\/p>\n
Chapo will be sworn into office in January.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n