Renamo, the main opposition party, said today that it "will not recognize the results of the census" for the local elections on October 11 if there is no "immediate correction" of the irregularities in the voter register. 

"What is happening with this census is organized disorganization. That's why Renamo will not recognize the results of this census unless the gross irregularities are corrected immediately," said Viana Magalhães, head of Renamo's caucus in the Assembly of the Republic (AR).

Magalhães was speaking during the closing speech of the seventh session of the ninth legislature of the Mozambican parliament.

"We demand the immediate correction of the irregularities and the extension of the census for another 30 days, so that every citizen with active electoral capacity residing within the radius of the respective municipality can register on the electoral roll," he emphasized.

The head of the main opposition party's caucus accused the electoral bodies of favoring the registration of voters who were members of the ruling Frelimo party and of failing to hold officials involved in electoral crimes accountable.

Viana Magalhães did not clarify whether the non-recognition of the results of the electoral census would mean that his party would boycott the next local elections.

Voter registration ends on June 3rd and expects around 10 million voters from the country's 65 municipalities to register. (Lusa)