Today is voting day, when more than 17 million Mozambicans registered on the electoral roll are called to the polls to choose the President of the Republic, members of parliament and members of provincial assemblies.

For the one-day process, which cannot be extended, 25,725 polling stations have been approved nationwide and 602 abroad, which must open at 7am and close at 6pm, after the last voter in line has cast their ballot by closing time.

In this regard, the president of the National Electoral Commission (CNE), Carlos Matsinhe, yesterday urged registered citizens to go to the polling stations as early as possible to exercise their right in an orderly manner, avoiding any kind of violence. "We hope that once voters have exercised their civic right, they will return home and engage in other tasks while waiting for the results to be announced by the competent authorities. We underline the fact that it is legally prescribed that no one should vote or remain in the area, for any reason whatsoever, in order to ensure that the area is decongested so that activities can run smoothly," appealed Carlos Matsinhe.

Quoted by NewsCarlos Matsinhe explained that voting takes an average of three minutes, so there is no reason for voters not to exercise their right in good time. He added that voters should present themselves with their voter registration card and be lucid.

The source called on polling station staff to be exemplary in complying with the rules that guide their tasks, pointing out that they are the only representatives of the state before the voter."Implement all the knowledge acquired in the training. No one should go to the polling station and come back without having exercised their constitutional right to vote. You must be proactive in organizing the queue to avoid delays and voter fatigue. Obey the legally established priorities," he said.

(Photo DR)