MAPUTO: The protest in Mozambican capital Maputo turned violent on Friday following Frelimo ruling party’s re-election after 49 years in power.
Hundreds of opposition supporters staged demonstration, dismissing what they called a ballot “stolen” by a “corrupt” electoral commission, which on Thursday announced victory of Daniel Chapo on October 9 election.
As the election commission, widely blamed for acting in favour of Frelimo, was announcing the results of the polls, the protesters gathered in different cities.
Tensions escalated, with rioters setting fire to tyres to block roads in Maputo and damaging Frelimo’s election billboards and destroying them.
Some of the protesters also threw stones at anti-riot police, who used tear gas to disperse them.
Chapo, a 47-year-old former provincial governor was little known before his nomination as a candidate for the ruling Frelimo party. He will take over from President Filipe Nyusi in January.
READ ALSO: Israeli Strike Kills 3 journalists in Lebanon
Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who declared himself the winner of the polls claimed irregularities in the process.
“We absolutely reject these results,” said Mondlane, who urged demonstrations during a Facebook live broadcast Thursday evening.
“They do not reflect the will of the people,” he added, calling the political situation in the southern African country “rotten, doctored and fake”.
Earlier this month a European Union poll observer mission noted irregularities during counting and favouritism in favour of Frelimo.
