Mozambique: Frelimo Elects Presidential Candidate

May 6, 2024 Hour: 3:48 pm

The ruling Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo) announced that its presidential candidate for the elections scheduled on October 9 will be Daniel Francisco Chapo, governor of the province of Inhambane (south).

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According to local media reports this Monday, the party’s Central Committee chose Chapo as a candidate this Sunday after the politician won with more than 94% of the votes of the 254 members of that body in the internal elections held after two days of extraordinary meeting.

Frelimo has been in power since the country gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and hopes he will help extend its rule.

Chapo’s appointment came as a surprise. He has not served in the national cabinet and his name was not on most lists of potential candidates.

The ruling party in Mozambique has selected provincial governor Daniel Francisco Chapo to assume the leadership of Frelimo, succeeding President Filipe Nyusi. Following over two days of rigorous debates, multiple rounds of voting, and the withdrawal of his closest competitor. pic.twitter.com/4dr8ZzYIld

— Robert Patrick Fati Gakwerere (@RGakwerere)
May 6, 2024

The 47-year-old law graduate and former radio announcer was appointed a provincial governor in 2016. Before that, he taught constitutional law and political science.

Mozambicans will vote on October 9 in the seventh presidential and legislative elections since independence, in addition to electing governments and provincial assemblies.