Mozambicans vote in general elections amid possible low turnout

Mozambicans went to the general elections Wednesday to elect their fourth president since its independence in 1975, as well as members of parliament and provincial assemblies.

The presidential race will largely be a showdown among former Defence Minister Filipe Nyusi, of the ruling Frelimo party, Afonso Dhlakama, leader of the main opposition Renamo, and Daviz Simango, leader of the second-largest opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), Xinhua reported.

Some polling stations were closed at 6 p.m. and started the counting process, while others remain open to allow to proceed till late.

Long queues have been seen outside many polling stations from the early hours of Wednesday in central Maputo, but by 1 p.m. the queues had evaporated, and only a few voters were making its way into the stations.

Furthermore, according to the Electoral Observatory, Mozambique's largest election observation group, the turnout is low despite large attendances at campaign rallies.

It is the fifth time for the former Portuguese colonial country to hold general elections after its deadly civil war ended in 1992. The ruling party won all the previous elections.