Mozambique’s General Elections to Proceed Without Restrictions, Despite Cyber-Attack
Mozambique’s general elections, scheduled for October 9, will take place without restrictions throughout the country, including in areas previously affected by Islamist terrorism, according to the chairperson of the National Elections Commission (CNE), Anglican Bishop Carlos Matsinhe.
Speaking during a visit to Dar es Salaam, Matsinhe claimed that the elections campaign is running smoothly in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, which had been plagued by terrorism. “So far, throughout the country, in all the districts, we have not received any notification of anywhere where there are difficulties in organizing the voting,” he said. However, he emphasized the need for precautions to ensure that voting materials arrive in all districts.
Matsinhe also acknowledged that the CNE is still short of the money it needs to run the elections, despite repeated warnings. “The election bodies are in constant communication with the government, in order to overcome the deficit,” he said. He admitted that some of the expenditure is “extremely crucial” and payment must be made to ensure that the elections go ahead.
In a surprise development, the CNE has suffered a cyber-attack, which has rendered its website inaccessible. According to a report in the independent daily “O Pais”, the hackers struck on Saturday morning. The CNE is working to restore the website to normality, but it is not yet known who carried out the attack or why.
Despite these challenges, Matsinhe expressed confidence in the election process, stating that the campaign is running smoothly both inside Mozambique and in the diaspora. “There is a high level of political tolerance,” he declared, adding that any incidents that have occurred have not been on a scale to affect the overall assessment of the campaign.
The CNE has taken measures to ensure that voters in affected areas can exercise their rights, and Matsinhe emphasized that the commission is working closely with the defense and security forces in Cabo Delgado to maintain order and security on voting day.
The Mozambican government has promised to provide the necessary support to ensure a peaceful and transparent election process. With just over a month to go before the polls, the country is bracing itself for a crucial moment in its democratic journey.
