The National Election Commission in Mozambique (Comissão Nacional de Eleições, CNE), has announced that registration for the country’s polls, which was due to start on the 1st of April, bas been delayed indefinitely. This is due to the devastating effects of the fatal cyclone Idai, which has killed at least 750 people in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
The Commission announced this is a statement released by its spokesman, Paulo Cuinica, and obtained by VOANews.com, where they explained that until there are acceptable conditions in the areas affected by the cyclone and flood, registration will not kick off as scheduled.
The CNE’s announcement raised speculations about a postponement of the election itself, but Cuinica insisted that the elections will hold this year.
According to Carta De Moçambique, the CNE allegedly gave the Council of Ministers three choices for a new date including the original October 15 election date, November or December 15.
According to the National Institute of Disaster Management (Mozambique) about 90,000 people are currently living in 109 accommodation centres across the country, receiving aid from the World Food Programme, South Africa and India.
Over $70 million has been donated by the international community to help with Mozambique’s cyclone relief, while $6.5 million has been pledged by the US Department of Defense.
President Filipe Nysui, has also raised concerns about future flooding that may occur as a result of the heavy rainfall in the region. The current weather situation casts a shadow of trepidation over the country’s Cahora Bassa Dam, the fourth largest in Africa, as it’s retention levels are currently at an all time high, increasing the chances of another flood in the country.
He also raised concerns about the Kariba dam in Zimbabwe, and Chagwa dam in Malawi, where another flood could cause further damage to the countries and their neighbors.
