The Roman Catholic bishops of Mozambique have issued a strong condemnation of the recent presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections, labelling the process a “fraud” and calling on election management bodies not to certify the results.
In a statement on Wednesday, the bishops expressed deep concern over the integrity of the electoral process, asserting that “certifying a lie is a fraud.”
The bishops allege that the elections, held on October 9, were fraught with manipulation and irregularities, including “ballot box stuffing” and the use of forged polling station results sheets.
They noted that the application of electoral law during the vote-counting phase cannot ensure reliable outcomes if the underlying data is compromised.
“The irregularities and frauds, which are largely carried out with impunity, have reinforced the lack of trust in the electoral bodies and in leaders who abdicate their dignity,” the statement read.
The bishops warned that such actions erode public confidence and lead citizens to question the legitimacy of those elected to office.
Highlighting the highest abstention rate in Mozambique’s multi-party election history, the bishops noted that over half of registered voters did not participate.
They attributed this low turnout to the widespread perception that previous electoral fraud rendered voting a futile exercise.
“Irregularities and fraud recorded in previous elections have shown a large part of the population that their will, expressed at the ballot box, is not respected,” they said.
The bishops also condemned the recent murders of prominent opposition figures, including lawyer Elvino Dias and election agent Paulo Guambe, which occurred just days after the elections.
Dias, known for his work with independent presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane and the Podemos party, had been involved in efforts to challenge electoral fraud claims.
The bishops noted that these political assassinations echo a troubling pattern of violence against opposition members in Mozambique.
They called for thorough investigations into the murders and other electoral irregularities, stressing that Mozambique must not revert to cycles of violence.
JN/APA