The murder last week of an election observer in Mozambique has cast a “dark shadow” over the country’s general election, according to rights groups, which say violence has escalated dramatically in the run-up to Tuesday’s ballot. Human Rights Watch’s southern Africa director, Dewa Mavhinga, has called Matavele’s killing “a chilling development that casts a dark shadow” over the October 15th elections. Mozambique’s presidential election sees the ruling Frelimo party’s leader, Filipe Nyusi, seeking a second term as the country’s president. He is up against Ossufo Momade, the new leader of the main opposition party, Renamo, and two other candidates. According to the Mozambique Election Process Bulletin, a newsletter covering the poll that is sponsored by the European Union and other donors, 44 people have reportedly been killed in election-related incidents since September 1st.

Source: The Irish Times October 14, 2019 17:15 UTC