The turnout in Mozambique's local elections last week was better than first reported, according to a specialist news service.
The Mozambique Political Process Bulletin, produced by the organisation European Parliamentarians for Africa, said provisional turnout averaged 30 percent in 24 municipalities. Initial reports last week suggested that only around 15 percent of registered voters had cast their ballots in the 19 November poll.
Despite the reported endorsement of the poll as "absolutely free" by the European Observer Mission on Friday, allegations have surfaced over the conduct of the elections in the port city of Beira.
The main opposition party, RENAMO, said it had caught a technician from the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration falsifying results sheets in favour of the ruling FRELIMO candidate.
Final official results are not due until 4 December, but FRELIMO is believed to have done better than expected in the 33 municipalities countrywide where elections took place.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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