The Episcopal Conference of Mozambique, representing the Catholic Church, condemned the barbaric murder of two political figures, recalling other murders of figures linked to opposition parties that took place following previous elections.

"However, in the aftermath of the elections, violence has once again been used, and now it has been tarnished with a cowardly ambush as a way of silencing, if not the truth, at least democracy," the bishops say in the pastoral note.

The bishops also say in the document that MZNews had access to, that as an institution, they are non-partisan, but that doesn't mean that they renounce their political and social commitment, "to a concrete path towards building a more democratic, inclusive, just and fraternal society, in which everyone should live in peace, with dignity and a future."

According to the bishops, more than half of the Mozambicans who had been registered were not present to exercise their right to vote.

"We have seen the highest voter abstention in our history of multiparty elections, which seems to indicate that the irregularities and fraud registered in previous elections have shown a large part of the population that their will, expressed at the ballot box, is not respected, making the exercise of this important civic right useless," the Catholic bishops said.

The bishops are once again talking about gross fraud during the voting process. "Ballot box stuffing, forged notices and so many other ways of covering up the truth have been repeated," reads the Catholic bishops' letter, and they don't stop there.

They say in the letter that "the irregularities and fraud practiced with impunity have reinforced the lack of confidence in the electoral bodies, in the leaders who abdicate their dignity and despise the truth and the sense of service that should guide those to whom the people entrust their vote". "In this way, they push the people not only to prove their mistrust, but also to question the legitimacy of those elected."

"In the face of this proven adulterated data, can the electoral bodies certify the results?" the bishops ask.

They also point out that the application of the electoral law at the vote tabulation stage at national level by the competent authorities cannot in itself guarantee reliable results if the data is not reliable.

"Certifying a lie is fraud," the bishops warn in a clear message to those responsible for electoral bodies.

The bishops ended by reiterating a strong appeal to "stop the violence, the political crimes and the disrespect for democracy. Let us have the courage to engage in dialogue and restore the truth to the facts."