Introduction
Independent election observation plays a vital role in safeguarding democracy. It enhances transparency, builds trust, and promotes accountability, all of which are essential for maintaining the integrity of electoral process and the health of democratic institutions. The insights gained from election observers inform future electoral processes, thereby strengthening democratic norms of a country.
On 9 October 2024, citizens of Mozambique went to the polls to elect the President and Members of Parliament and Provincial Governors. These elections marked the seventh round of Presidential and Legislative elections since the onset of multi-party elections in 1994. The elections took place in 25,725 polling stations in Mozambique’s ten provinces and in 602 diaspora polling stations in seven African and two European countries. A total of 17,169,239 citizens were registered, including 333,839 in the diaspora, reflecting a 30% increase compared to the 2019 elections. The Mozambique elections were commendable for several reasons. Notwithstanding the insecurity in some areas of Cabo Delgado Province which faced acts of terrorism, the country was calm and peaceful in the pre-election and election period. However, the aftermath of the election was characterised by electoral violence, which resulted in the recorded deaths of Elvino Divas, legal advisor to Mozambican presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane and Paulo Gambe, the legal representative of the political party PODEMOS. The killings have been widely condemned by the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), Embassies in Mozambique, Electoral Support Network of Southern Africa (ESN-SA) among others.
