Renamo faces crisis after losing 48 seats amid rising tensions within the party
The loss of 48 parliamentary seats by Renamo has sparked internal tensions within the party, particularly among supporters of Ossufo Momade, who had expected to secure seats in the assembly. This outcome represents a significant setback for the party, which has been grappling with both internal and external challenges.
The allocation of seats was analysed by the independent electoral observation platform, *Mais Transparência*, based on results gathered by the Provincial Election Commissions. Initially seen as an outsider in these elections, PODEMOS surprised many by forming an alliance with independent candidate Venâncio Mondlane, securing 46 seats. This result solidified PODEMOS as the second-largest political force, trailing only behind Frelimo, which won 162 seats.
The data from *Mais Transparência* was corroborated by both district-level vote tallies and the aggregation of votes at the provincial level. These figures confirmed Frelimo’s victory and its presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, followed by PODEMOS and Venâncio Mondlane.
However, PODEMOS contested the results, alleging that its parallel vote count showed Venâncio Mondlane winning in several electoral constituencies, but that the results had been altered to favour Frelimo. Based on this count, Venâncio Mondlane declared himself the winner of the elections and announced the formation of a transitional commission for power transfer.
In response to Mondlane’s statements, the Prosecutor-General’s Office notified him, accusing him of inciting violence and attempting to seize power through illegal means, as he proclaimed himself the winner before the official results were announced by the electoral authorities.
Meanwhile, the African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party in neighbouring South Africa, congratulated Frelimo and its candidate for their victory, despite the absence of an official announcement from Mozambique’s electoral authorities.
The Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) also saw an improvement compared to the previous legislature, increasing its representation from 6 to 11 seats, primarily benefiting from its strong performance in Sofala province, where it holds significant influence.
The next Mozambican legislature will feature four political forces: Frelimo, PODEMOS, Renamo, and MDM. Despite the gains made by the opposition, Frelimo will continue to dominate the parliament, holding over 60% of the seats and maintaining its hegemonic position in the country's political landscape.
