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Mozambique’s ruling party, the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) took its campaign  to Zimbabwe where it worked on consolidating support and reaching out to its registered voters ahead of the presidential and legislative elections slated for October 9, 2024.

In a show of strength and numbers, Mozambique’s ruling party has so far held campaign rallies in the country’s nine provinces which were attended by multitudes of its supporters.

Zimpapers Politics Hub Senior Writer, Joseph Madzimure, (JM) caught up with Frelimo’s Zimbabwe chairman, Cde Araujo Tomas Mafupe, to have an insight into how the campaign rallies are going on across the country.

JM: I understand Frelimo has intensified its campaign rallies to lure Mozambican residents in Zimbabwe to vote for the revolutionary party. How many areas did you cover?

ATM: We launched our campaigns on August 24 in Bindura, Mashonaland Central followed by Chitungwiza, Epworth, Mutare, Rusape, Watsomba, Manica Bridge in Manicaland, Mashava, Great Zimbabwe, Masvingo, Nemanwa Growth Point, Bulawayo and Hwange, Chegutu, Norton, Harare, Bulawayo, Kadoma, Mashonaland West, Nyamaropa, Nyakomba and Dzivaresekwa, to notify members about the voting process and to vote for the revolutionary party.

JM: How many campaign rallies have you conducted so far?

ATM: We have conducted 31 rallies in Zimbabwe and 354 door-to-door visitations to sell our message to the electorate. In Zimbabwe we have registered voters in nine provinces.

JM: Did you face any hiccups during your campaigns?

ATM: Our rallies are going on well. We want to thank the Government of Zimbabwe for supporting us during this period. We are provided with maximum security to ensure our gatherings are free of violence. We are also getting media coverage. We really appreciate the support we are getting from the Government.

JM: How many Mozambicans are registered voters in Zimbabwe?

ATM: We have 33 238 registered voters in Zimbabwe.

JM: How many polling stations do you have, considering the number of registered voters locally?

ATM: Mozambican authorities have set 60 polling stations across the country, which we think are enough for the voters. Our aim is to ensure voters cast their vote close to their doorsteps in their respective provinces.

JM: When are you going to have mop-up rallies?

ATM: We have already done our mop-up campaign rallies in Concession, Mashonaland Central, Nyanga Town, Rusape and Nyazura.

JM: How do you see the elections, are you certain of winning the elections?

ATM: As a revolutionary party, we are certain that the 33 238 registered voters will vote for Frelimo. We are certain that our presidential candidate Daniel Francisco Chapo will win resoundingly.

We would like to appreciate the support rendered to us by Zanu PF, as a sister revolutionary party. Our common cause is to defeat agents of imperialists in the region.

Zimbabwe and Mozambique are like twins. Our Presidents are united, Frelimo liberated Mozambique, just like what Zanu PF did in Zimbabwe. We need liberation movements to continue governing their respective countries to guard against re-colonisation. Mozambique sacrificed a lot for Zimbabwe to gain its independence in 1980, and the bond between the two countries was forged in blood and can never be broken.

JM: Why are you certain you will win the elections?

ATM: As a party which forms the government, we have progressive plans and projects to empower our youth and women with a number of programmes lined up to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country. We do not want to rely on donor funding, but to use our local resources to capacitate our people.

Cabo Delgado is rich in oil, ruby, graphite, gold and timber while Tete province is renowned for its natural resources, including coal, gold, iron ore, and gemstones. The region’s mineral wealth has attracted significant investment and mining activity.

We want to make sure the resources benefit the locals directly and indirectly.

JM: I understand there is civil unrest in Cabo Delgado, do you think the outcome of elections will end the war?

ATM: That is one of the major tasks of the coming Frelimo government. We want unity, one Mozambique. Why do we fight? We are one people? We should not allow Western countries to infiltrate our country. We are certain that the Frelimo Government will end the civil unrest.

JM: Frelimo has been in power since Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and elected 47-year-old Cde Daniel Chapo as a presidential candidate. Do you think he will appeal to the electorate?

ATM: I am certain that Cde Chapo will emerge victorious. He is the first Frelimo candidate born after independence to lead the party.

There is excitement among the electorate because he represents the past and future generations, and we are confident that through his leadership and presidency, will have a positive impact on the people’s well-being.

He is a fresh political face who appeals to youths and will get significant support from that section of the population.