Mozambique’s 2009 Elections: Framing Democratic Consolidation in Context

Abstract

Mozambique's fourth post-conflict elections, held in

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“…With the exception of Pasomo, the Ecologist Party, UDF, Parede, PSDM and PLDM, which have supported the newly formed MDM, the overwhelming majority of non-effective parties have succumbed to co-option by Frelimo (Nuvunga & Mohamed Salih 2010). Overall, of the non-effective parties only the PDD conforms to our concept of a political party.…”

“…Frelimo claims to have three million members, which is consistent with its average electoral support in the four elections to date. However, there have been procedural irregularities, including ballot box stuffing, orchestrated by Frelimo groups in all elections except the first democratic elections in 1994 (Nuvunga & Mohamed Salih 2010).…”

“…For most scholars (De Tollenaere 2013;Forquilha and Orre 2012;Rønning 2010Rønning , 2011Nuvunga & Mohamed Salih 2010;Pereira 2008) this is an indication of Renamo's failure to make an institutional transformation from a military movement to a political party.…”

“…This gave the impression that the party had strong roots/relations with civil society (Nuvunga & Mohamed Salih 2010). However, the interviewees suggest that civil society organisations were against the MDM's partial exclusion from the electoral process (Nuvunga & Mohamed Salih 2010) although people sympathised with the MDM because, in the context of a desire for political change, it had the potential to challenge Frelimo. As the MDM has only participated in one general election it is not yet possible to assess its electoral support, although it did obtain an overwhelming victory in the Quelimane town local elections (see below).…”

Party Institutionalisation in Mozambique: 'The Party of the State' vs the Opposition

“…With the exception of Pasomo, the Ecologist Party, UDF, Parede, PSDM and PLDM, which have supported the newly formed MDM, the overwhelming majority of non-effective parties have succumbed to co-option by Frelimo (Nuvunga & Mohamed Salih 2010).…”