Mozambique’s National Electoral Commission (CNE) has extended voting in select areas until Saturday due to delays in receiving voting materials. While most of the country completed its elections on Wednesday, some districts in Zambezia province and a polling station in Germany were unable to hold elections on time.
CNE spokesperson Paulo Cuinica explained that voting was disrupted in parts of central Mozambique’s Zambezia province. “As a result, 23 polling stations did not open in the province, with 4 in Maganja da Costa and 19 in the district of Gilé,” Cuinica said. The delays were primarily caused by logistical issues in delivering election materials.
A similar problem affected Mozambicans living in Germany. Voting materials that were sent on September 27 were delayed in Cologne and did not reach Berlin until Thursday, a day after the elections. This left 670 Mozambican voters in Germany unable to cast their ballots on time. In response, voting in the affected areas has been rescheduled, with polling stations in Zambezia’s Gilé and Maganja districts open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and in Germany from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time.
Election observers have given mixed reviews on the electoral process. Laura Valerin, chief observer of the European Union election mission, noted that while the campaign was peaceful and voting orderly, there were delays and confusion during the vote-counting process. “Our observers saw that the counting phase was very long, with polling staff facing difficulties and doubts about the procedures,” Valerin said.
She also highlighted concerns about public trust in the independence of electoral bodies. Her sentiments were echoed by Succès Masra, head of the observer mission from the U.S.-based International Republican Institute. While he commended the democratic spirit of Mozambican voters, Masra raised concerns about delayed accreditation for observers, late changes to electoral laws, and misuse of state resources during the campaign, which could impact public confidence in the process.
As Mozambique awaits the official results of its seventh general election since the advent of multiparty democracy 30 years ago, initial results from the National Electoral Council could be announced as early as Saturday.
