Presidential candidate Daniel Chapo, backed by the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo), has declared that the country is about to enter a ‘new era’ in its history. The statement comes at a crucial time, with the Constitutional Council preparing to officially proclaim the results of the general elections held on 9 October, according to Lusa.
In a message published on his official Facebook account, Chapo emphasised the importance of the moment, saying that ‘a new chapter in our history is about to begin and we are going to write it together.’ The candidate also emphasised the resilience and strength of the Mozambican people, calling for national unity to face challenges and build what he called the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’.
The preliminary results, announced on 24 October by the National Electoral Commission (CNE), gave Chapo victory with 70.67% of the vote. However, the final validation rests with the Constitutional Council, which has until 23 December to officially proclaim the figures. This step is essential to consolidate the result and pave the way for the transition of leadership, marked by the end of the second term of the current President, Filipe Nyusi.
Daniel Chapo, a lawyer by profession and the current secretary-general of Frelimo, was chosen by the party in May as its presidential candidate. With a career marked by governance in several provinces, such as Inhambane, Nampula and Cabo Delgado, he sees the mission as a commitment to ‘serve the people’. In previous statements, the candidate assured that he never imagined taking on such a position, but accepted the task as part of his journey in the party.
Despite the anticipation of the official announcement, the post-election period has been marked by tensions. The runner-up in the presidential race, Venâncio Mondlane, who won just over 20 per cent of the votes, has called for demonstrations and stoppages in various regions of the country.
The protests have resulted in violent clashes with the authorities, with at least 130 people killed, more than 2,000 injured and around 3,600 arrested, according to the Decide Electoral Platform, an organisation monitoring the process.
With the validation of the results by the Constitutional Council, Mozambique is preparing to turn a page in its political history. The expectation is that Daniel Chapo will be able to unite the nation, tackle the economic and social challenges and lead the country towards a new era of stability and progress.
