Mozambique's main opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama described Wednesday's general elections as a "puppet show" at a Saturday press conference.

Dhlakama said that his party is collecting all the result sheets from the 11 constituencies to challenge the National Elections Commission (CNE).

CNE has been releasing partial results which showed that the presidential candidate of the ruling Frelimo party, Filipe Nyusi, is in the lead with over 60 percent of the votes, while the Renamo leader achieved over 30 percent, and Daviz Simango of Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) less that 10 percent.

"I condemn the CNE attitude. It is too early to divulge the results," he said, adding that "I just want an explanation."

Dhlakama cites a string of fraud, saying that there were cases of fraud in the northern province of Nampula, the northwestern province of Tete and the central province of Zambezia.

While, on Friday, observers from the European Union, the Commonwealth, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the African Union and Carter Center described the polls as free, fair and peaceful.

Dhlakama said he was interested in negotiating with the Frelimo government so that Mozambique can have a real democracy.

"I want to continue with the negotiations with the government", he said. Delegations from both parties have been in negotiations since last year to resolve their differences.

Asked whether Renamo would return to war in protest against the results, Dhlakama replied, "never ever there will be violence. Frelimo was responsible for what happened."

From May last year, the gunmen of Renamo and government troops were in clashes until the ceasefire agreement was signed this August, which was ratified by the current President Armando Guebuza and Dhlakama on Sept. 5.

"My goal is to win democracy. I am not interested in becoming the president, but to fight for democracy," the official said.

Mozambique held its presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections on Wednesday. The tabulation of the results is still going on. Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)