The Povo Optimista para o Desenvolvimento de Moçambique (PODEMOS) party, which supports the presidential candidacy of Venâncio António Bila Mondlane, submitted a complaint to the Attorney General's Office (PGR) yesterday (Monday 04) against unknown persons and suspects in connection with the alleged falsification of notices and minutes of the partial tabulation of election results by the District Election Commissions..

This is an alleged forgery that aims to respond to the CC's request to the CNE for the original notices and minutes of the partial and intermediate tabulation of the vote on October 9.

In a complaint supported by information circulating on social networks (especially WhatsApp and Facebook), Dinis Tivane, one of the advisors to candidate Venâncio Mondlane, revealed that there are candidate delegates from various parties, including PODEMOS, who have been contacted by members of the District Electoral Commissions to "sign false documents".

Quoted in a Letter from MozambiqueTivane said that in Nampula province, for example, the process is being led by Ossufo Ossufo (President of the Nampula District Electoral Commission); Cristina Alde (Frelimo's Provincial Head of Patrimony); Adriano Selemane (from Renamo); Rachide Cheia; among other members of the electoral bodies and Frelimo.

"Since the minutes and notices filed by the Complainant [PODEMOS] with the CC [Constitutional Council] prove a victory for PODEMOS and its candidate Venâncio António Bila Mondlane, the Frelimo Party Cells, spread throughout the national territory, have been receiving 'superior' orders to subvert the sovereign will of the people," the complaint alleges, demanding clarification of the case by the inert Attorney General's Office.

For PODEMOS, the acts underway in the District Commissions constitute crimes of forgery, criminal association and corruption for illegal acts, all punishable under the Mozambican Penal Code.

To this end, PODEMOS is asking the PGR to request the minutes and notices handed over by the District Elections Commissions to the National Elections Commission and to compare them with those held by other political parties; to open criminal proceedings; to identify all the offenders; and to arrest them on remand in order to prevent the criminal activity from continuing.

The party goes on to demand that the Constitutional Council, the Ombudsman, the National Electoral Commission and the Technical Secretariat of the Electoral Administration, the Bar Association, the European Union Electoral Observation Mission, the Embassy of the United States of America and the Embassy of the United Kingdom be made assistants in the process.

(Photo DR)