Business as usual in Maputo
Sunday is the last day of campaigning for Mozambique's election. As Commonwealth observers prepare for deployment, it's business as usual in Maputo
Official campaigning ends tomorrow (Sunday) in Mozambique’s fourth multi-party elections, which take place on 28th October.
Evidence of rallies on the streets of the capital Maputo is thin on the ground. There are plenty of election posters plastered around the city and some people wearing bright party T-shirts, but not much activity.
People seem to be going about their business as usual. Now and then, you hear noisy music and you can see a line of open-backed four-by-four vehicles packed with people wildly waving flags and shouting through loudspeakers.
Yesterday, outside the hotel where the Commonwealth Observer Group is staying, we heard loud singing. Anticipating some action, we went outside to find a wedding taking place next door. The bride, groom and their guests then piled into their own four-by-four, cheering at passers-by as they left the church.
The Commonwealth group of 11 Observers, chaired by Dr Ahmad Tejan Kabbah former President of Sierra Leone, will be deployed on Monday. After days of intense briefings from the Election Commission, political parties, civil society, the media, High Commissioners and other observer groups, most of the team will depart Maputo for the provinces.
By law, campaigning must stop 48 hours before the election and political commentators say we should expect some activity on the streets tomorrow.