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 years old, Chapo, who gained 71% of the vote, will be the first president born after Mozambique’s independence in 1975. His closest challenger, Venancio Mondlane got 20%.<\/p>\n
Following the announcement of the result, there have been violent protests in several towns.<\/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 electoral commission says 43% of the more than 17 million registered voters took part in the elections.<\/p>\n
Parliamentary and provincial elections were held simultaneously.<\/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
The main opposition candidate, Mondlane, has called for a national strike on Thursday in protest at the alleged rigging.<\/p>\n
Mondlane has until December to contest the results.<\/p>\n
He added 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 claims that he won the election despite preliminary polls showing that Chapo was well ahead.<\/p>\n
On Monday, he organised nationwide protests, 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 officially sworn into office in January.<\/p>\n