IN THE SPOTLIGHT: MOZAMBIQUE PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMEN-TARY ELECTIONS

By Ml Luqman Skink, INX Prime News and Current Affairs Editor

Following Mozambique’s general election on October 9, there is a sense of tense calm in the capital Maputo where residents hope peace will prevail and everything goes back to normal.

So far there have been no major incidents, but two of the main opposition leaders have already warned against electoral fraud. The ruling FRELIMO party is expected to extend its 49-year grip on power since the country won its independence from Portugal.

Mozambique is plagued by high levels of poverty and inequality but the country’s wealth has been blocked by violence near rich gas deposits in the north. INX Prime speaks to President of the Islamic Council of Mozambique, Sheikh Aminuddin Muhammad.

SHEIKH AMINUDDIN MUHAMMAD

Sheikh Aminuddin is the President of the Islamic Council of Mozambique and founder of the Hamza Institute, the largest Quranic teaching institution in the country. A graduate of the Islamic University of Medina in Saudi Arabia, he also holds a Theology degree from the Islamic University of Karachi.

As a member of the Council of State, a body that advises President Filipe Nyusi Sheikh has made important interventions regarding the violence in Cabo Delgado.

His grasp on Mozambique’s social and political life is not only fascinating- it is a testament to his broad knowledge of the country’s past and present.

’Heading in the right direction’

Speaking to INX Prime, Sheikh Muhammad said Mozambique is a country that has been through a long period of tough times, from its bitter and prolonged civil war shortly after independence to a one-party state policy imposed by FRELIMO until 1992 when democracy was adopted.

”The first democratic multi-party elections were held in 1994 and so far, the country has fulfilled the pillars of the democratic constitution. So we are headed in the right direction.”

Outgoing President Filipe Nyusi was ’not so bad’

Sheikh Muhammad described the outgoing President Filipe Nyusi’s overall performance in his two terms in office as good. ”Considering the challenges he faced including climate-change induced natural disasters, terrorism, and the economy- he was able to attract high levels of investment into the country.”

FRELIMO’s 49 year grip on power

Sheikh Muhammad said that because of the aspirations of Mozambique’s young population who also want to have a role in the government of their country, it was a good idea for FRELIMO to field a young candidate in the presidential race.

”Frelimo took a good step by electing someone who is young and born after independence. The youth of the country are demanding change. The party has responded to this and it is a sign of maturity on behalf of the party.”

The Cabo Delgado Insurgency

In November 2023, Sheikh Aminuddin Muhammad announced the creation of an international commission to begin a dialogue with the terrorists who have been attacking the northern province of Cabo Delgado.

Sheikh Muhammad stressed that the attacks carried out by terrorists in Cabo Delgado are not religiously motivated, but the result of a number of socio-economic factors including that communities there feel excluded from the country’s resources.

Islam in Mozambique

Sheikh Muhammad expressed the hope that Mozambique will eventually solve the issues in the north, but warned against the scapegoating of the Muslims of the country who enjoy a historical bond with the country.

”Muslims have been living in Mozambique for over a thousand years, since before the start of Portuguese colonial rule, and they have never been involved in terrorism. The question we should be asking is this happening now?”

A day after the poll, one of the main opposition candidates Venâncio Mondlane declared victory in a live stream on his Facebook page, saying early results indicated he won 65% of the vote and his party, Podemos has a majority in parliament.