Our journalists confirm closed registration posts
We asked our correspondents to look at registration throughout the country, and they found widespread problems, with many registration posts closed for long periods. They also found evidence to support many of the complaints made by Renamo.
Nampula seems typical. Our correspondent Luis Rodrigues was in Murrupula on 14 and 15 July and visited seven registration posts, none of which was operating. Post 454 (Mulhaniua) had never opened because the computer did not work. The other six had functioned for less than a week and run out of plastic covers for the voters cards, and had not operated since (634 Nihessiue, 434 Muchelelene, 450 Naha, 448 Chacalua, 435 Namipisssa, 442 Napuco). Correspondent Julio Paulino went to Mogincual, Nampula, on 15 July. He found that in the district there were 17 generators and battery chargers, but only 7 generators actually worked. All five registration posts he visited had not operated for more than two weeks, due to generator and computer problems and lack of plastic for cards (post 270 Chasselemane, 271 Mula, 272 Naminami, 278 Nozica, and 274 Nota). District STAE director Alfredo Macário admitted that computer problems meant that registration posts in Capitão Mora, Novera, Naminane e Naquira had not been working for three weeks. In Nampula city on 17 July, 11 registration posts were functioning only irregularly because of printer problems.
But even in Murrupula, the picture was mixed; three brigades had successfully finished their tasks in towns and had moved out to rural areas. And there seems no political bias in Nampula; both Murrupula and Mogincual voted for President Armando Guebuza in 2004 and several of the non-functioning registration posts are in overwhelmingly Frelimo zones.
But Renamo has been particularly outspoken in its criticism of registration. Furthermore, Renamo is often criticised for being vague and not giving details or evidence. So our correspondents asked Renamo provincial offices to indentify problem areas – which they did.
In Manica, Renamo complained particularly about lack of registration in Goi-Goi in Mussorize district. Renamo had gained 95% of the votes there in 2004 and thus was anxious to maximize registration and turnout. Our correspondent André Catueira visited Goi-Goi and found that registration had only begun on 6 July because of the late delivery of the computer; registration brigade 152 had been sitting there for three weeks, doing nothing. In Docata, also in Mussorize, brigade 151 was working, but with difficulty because it only had one battery which had to be sent 35 km to Espungabera to be recharged. Brigade 270 in Mucheneze opened on schedule but closed after the first day because the battery failed; registration only restarted a month later, on 16 July. But brigade 150 in Mupengo had registered 1500 people despite computer problems. Brigades 150, 151, and 152 are supposed to be mobile brigades moving to other villages in this staunchly Renamo zone, but by 16 July, two weeks before the finish of registration, had been unable to do this.
In Tete, Angonia district gave 55% to Dhlakama and 37% to Guebuza, but Ndaula localidade gave 81% to Dhlakama and only 13% to Guebuza. When our correspondent arrived on 18 July, five weeks after the official start of registration, none of the four brigades assigned to Nduala had started work and no one had been registered, because of various computer problems. Indeed, each of the brigades had only two people present, plus a member of the police. In Chiritse two members of the brigade had been arrested for threatening members of the public. In Catondo, a nearby Renamo area, registration had also not started. Pedrito Conselho, head of the observers for the Christian Council, said that only five of 40 brigades in Angonia were functioning.
In Niassa, Renamo had cited Ngauma as a problem area, and our correspondent visited there, finding that all five registration brigades had begun work in the first week, and were continuing to register people. But an odd problem had occurred – voters cards were being issued with the wrong photograph. Staff said they could not correct the problem and issue new cards because of lack of materials. It is unclear if people will be allowed to vote if their card has the wrong picture. In neighbouring Mandimba district, the district director of STAE said five brigades were not able to work.
In Nicoadala district, Zambézia, Renamo president Afonso Dhlakama had a slight majority in 2004, and thus it will be closely contested in provincial elections. Renamo alleged that in some more rural parts of Nicoadala where its majorities in 2004 had been much greater, registration had not started. Our correspondent confirmed that registration in the zones cited by Renamo only began between 12 and 16 July, and STAE district director Magalhães Manuel admitted that there had been problems obtaining parts for the computers. Elsewhere in Nicoadala our correspondent found brigades paralysed because of computer breakdowns, batteries, and lack of materials.
In neighbouring Namacurra district, of 33 brigades, 26 began work during the first week, and others started later, the last on 12 July. But all 33 have reported constant breakdowns.
In Cabo Delgado, both Montepuez and Mocimboa da Praia are divided and fiercely contested. Our correspondent reports that in Montepuez all registration teams are functioning, but forced to close early when the computer battery runs out. But in Mocimboa da Praia one of two mobile brigades has never been able to start registration.
And in Bándua, Buzi district, Sofala, the battery problem has been solved in an unusual way. Brigades 63 and 64 share a battery; each brigade keeps it for three days, then passes it to the other. The is a fiercely Renamo area – Dhlakama won 10 times as many votes as Guebuza in 2004 – and Renamo complains that having brigades sit for three days simply turning people away is putting off its supporters.
Comment
We asked our correspondents to look at registration throughout the country, and they found widespread problems, with many registration posts closed for long periods. They also found evidence to support many of the complaints made by Renamo.
Nampula seems typical. Our correspondent Luis Rodrigues was in Murrupula on 14 and 15 July and visited seven registration posts, none of which was operating. Post 454 (Mulhaniua) had never opened because the computer did not work. The other six had functioned for less than a week and run out of plastic covers for the voters cards, and had not operated since (634 Nihessiue, 434 Muchelelene, 450 Naha, 448 Chacalua, 435 Namipisssa, 442 Napuco). Correspondent Julio Paulino went to Mogincual, Nampula, on 15 July. He found that in the district there were 17 generators and battery chargers, but only 7 generators actually worked. All five registration posts he visited had not operated for more than two weeks, due to generator and computer problems and lack of plastic for cards (post 270 Chasselemane, 271 Mula, 272 Naminami, 278 Nozica, and 274 Nota). District STAE director Alfredo Macário admitted that computer problems meant that registration posts in Capitão Mora, Novera, Naminane e Naquira had not been working for three weeks. In Nampula city on 17 July, 11 registration posts were functioning only irregularly because of printer problems.
But even in Murrupula, the picture was mixed; three brigades had successfully finished their tasks in towns and had moved out to rural areas. And there seems no political bias in Nampula; both Murrupula and Mogincual voted for President Armando Guebuza in 2004 and several of the non-functioning registration posts are in overwhelmingly Frelimo zones.
But Renamo has been particularly outspoken in its criticism of registration. Furthermore, Renamo is often criticised for being vague and not giving details or evidence. So our correspondents asked Renamo provincial offices to indentify problem areas – which they did.
In Manica, Renamo complained particularly about lack of registration in Goi-Goi in Mussorize district. Renamo had gained 95% of the votes there in 2004 and thus was anxious to maximize registration and turnout. Our correspondent André Catueira visited Goi-Goi and found that registration had only begun on 6 July because of the late delivery of the computer; registration brigade 152 had been sitting there for three weeks, doing nothing. In Docata, also in Mussorize, brigade 151 was working, but with difficulty because it only had one battery which had to be sent 35 km to Espungabera to be recharged. Brigade 270 in Mucheneze opened on schedule but closed after the first day because the battery failed; registration only restarted a month later, on 16 July. But brigade 150 in Mupengo had registered 1500 people despite computer problems. Brigades 150, 151, and 152 are supposed to be mobile brigades moving to other villages in this staunchly Renamo zone, but by 16 July, two weeks before the finish of registration, had been unable to do this.
In Tete, Angonia district gave 55% to Dhlakama and 37% to Guebuza, but Ndaula localidade gave 81% to Dhlakama and only 13% to Guebuza. When our correspondent arrived on 18 July, five weeks after the official start of registration, none of the four brigades assigned to Nduala had started work and no one had been registered, because of various computer problems. Indeed, each of the brigades had only two people present, plus a member of the police. In Chiritse two members of the brigade had been arrested for threatening members of the public. In Catondo, a nearby Renamo area, registration had also not started. Pedrito Conselho, head of the observers for the Christian Council, said that only five of 40 brigades in Angonia were functioning.
In Niassa, Renamo had cited Ngauma as a problem area, and our correspondent visited there, finding that all five registration brigades had begun work in the first week, and were continuing to register people. But an odd problem had occurred – voters cards were being issued with the wrong photograph. Staff said they could not correct the problem and issue new cards because of lack of materials. It is unclear if people will be allowed to vote if their card has the wrong picture. In neighbouring Mandimba district, the district director of STAE said five brigades were not able to work.
In Nicoadala district, Zambézia, Renamo president Afonso Dhlakama had a slight majority in 2004, and thus it will be closely contested in provincial elections. Renamo alleged that in some more rural parts of Nicoadala where its majorities in 2004 had been much greater, registration had not started. Our correspondent confirmed that registration in the zones cited by Renamo only began between 12 and 16 July, and STAE district director Magalhães Manuel admitted that there had been problems obtaining parts for the computers. Elsewhere in Nicoadala our correspondent found brigades paralysed because of computer breakdowns, batteries, and lack of materials.
In neighbouring Namacurra district, of 33 brigades, 26 began work during the first week, and others started later, the last on 12 July. But all 33 have reported constant breakdowns.
In Cabo Delgado, both Montepuez and Mocimboa da Praia are divided and fiercely contested. Our correspondent reports that in Montepuez all registration teams are functioning, but forced to close early when the computer battery runs out. But in Mocimboa da Praia one of two mobile brigades has never been able to start registration.
And in Bándua, Buzi district, Sofala, the battery problem has been solved in an unusual way. Brigades 63 and 64 share a battery; each brigade keeps it for three days, then passes it to the other. The is a fiercely Renamo area – Dhlakama won 10 times as many votes as Guebuza in 2004 – and Renamo complains that having brigades sit for three days simply turning people away is putting off its supporters.
Comment
Renamo fumbles the ball again, but real problems remain
Local elections last year highlighted a series of issues that could and should have been resolved by parliament before national elections this year:
. Polling station officials spoiling ballots for Renamo
. Ballot papers brought in from outside the polling station.
. Overly complex complaints procedures which make it impossible to object to a violation if the polling station president refuses to accept the protest.
. Police too close to polling stations.
• Senior Frelimo party officials serving as “independent” observers.
But attempts to solve these real problems have failed due to a mix of political manoeuvres by Frelimo, which has no real interest in change, and incompetence by Renamo, where thinking has not moved on in a decade.
Local elections last year highlighted a series of issues that could and should have been resolved by parliament before national elections this year:
. Polling station officials spoiling ballots for Renamo
. Ballot papers brought in from outside the polling station.
. Overly complex complaints procedures which make it impossible to object to a violation if the polling station president refuses to accept the protest.
. Police too close to polling stations.
• Senior Frelimo party officials serving as “independent” observers.
But attempts to solve these real problems have failed due to a mix of political manoeuvres by Frelimo, which has no real interest in change, and incompetence by Renamo, where thinking has not moved on in a decade.
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