The polling stations were due to open at 07.00. The Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE) told polling station staff to arrive two hours early, at 05.00, in order to make all the necessary preparations to receive voters.
Nonetheless, in the central city of Beira some of the polling stations were late opening. Thus, the polling station at the Palmeiras Primary School, where the mayor of Beira, and presidential candidate of the opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) is due to vote, had not opened its doors to the voters by 07.35.
At this time, staff members were still putting up the banners identifying the school as a polling centre, and the posters listing the candidates.
Despite the delays, and the large crowds, the atmosphere outside the polling stations was calm. Police were present to keep order, but at a distance, as established by the electoral legislation.
Sofala province has 926,746 registered voters, who should cast their ballots in 1,267 polling stations, 358 of which are in Beira.
Post published in: Africa News