The post-election tension in Mozambique is having negative consequences for several vital sectors of the national economy, which in a way is jeopardising the business environment and could further dampen foreign investment.
In this regard, on Friday 18 October, the private sector warned that the general strike (in repudiation of the election results of the 9th) called by the candidate for the Presidency of the Republic, Venâncio Mondlane, for Monday 21 October, was already having a negative impact on the tourism sector, due to the cancellation of bookings at the country’s tourist resorts.
According to the vice-president of the Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA), Vasco Manhiça, Mondlane’s pronouncements have a dimension that could compromise the festive season, considered the best time for tourism in Mozambican President.‘This supposed demonstration, from the point of view of tourism, is going to have a really negative impact because some cancellations of bookings are already starting to appear, especially for people who are abroad,’ he said.
He argued that the country’s political instability is detrimental to tourism because the consequences affect several spheres. ‘In the economy, tourism plays a crucial role for the other sectors, because it manages to bring bread and tea to the table of the most disadvantaged people.’
The CTA considered that a nationwide paralysis of production and business activity would result in enormous economic and social damage, of which the working class and their families would be the main victims. ‘The private sector is not going to interfere in politics. Let the politicians take care of politics. We’ll take care of the other social part,’ he emphasised.
In addition to Venâncio Mondlane and Daniel Chapo, Ossufo Momade, backed by Renamo, and Lutero Simango, backed by the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM, the third largest party), ran for the presidency in the elections on the 9th.
The publication of the presidential election results by the National Electoral Commission, if there is no second round, takes up to 15 days, before they are validated by the Constitutional Council, which has no deadlines for proclaiming the official results after analysing any appeals.
The vote included legislative seats (250 deputies) and seats for provincial assemblies and their respective provincial governors, in this case with 794 mandates to be distributed. The CNE approved lists of 35 political parties running for the Assembly of the Republic and 14 political parties and groups of voting citizens for the provincial assemblies.
