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Elections 2004
By Per Bergholdt Jensen
16. November 2004
Earlier on Frelimo and Renamo were considered the only real contenders at the elections in Mozambique. But the appearance of a new party might change the traditional power balance in Mozambican politics.
Exclusion from Renamo and foundation of PDD
The name is PDD (The Party for Peace, Democracy and Development). PDD was founded by the former vice president of Renamo, Raul Domingos, after he was excluded from this party in the year 2000.
The leader of Renamo, Afonso Dhlakama, threw Domingos out, accusing him of having made a secret political deal with Frelimo concerning the elections in 1999 for the presidency and the parliament.
Dhlakama has also during this year’s electoral campaign accused Raul Domingos of having received money to let Frelimo win the 1999 elections. Precisely how this should have happened is not clear.
It is believed that the real reason for expelling Domingos from the Renamo was due to Dhlakama’s wanting to get rid of the more moderate members of the party.
The political anteater
Politically PDD is placed to the left of right wing Renamo. If you want to put a label on The Party for Peace, Democracy and Development it could be seen as a Mozambican version of social liberalism.
PDD has chosen the special Mozambican anteater, the pangolim, as its symbol. According to traditional believes the anteater is a magical animal that is a messenger of changes. And the anteater party PDD could precisely cause political changes.
PDD is still a small party compared to Frelimo and Renamo. But of the smaller parties in Mozambique PDD has undoubtedly been the most active and the best organized during this electoral campaign.
PDD is getting members from Renamo
PDD is predicted to be quite successful at the elections, but these predictions are not very well sustained since there are no credible opinion polls in Mozambique.
None the less, several incidents during the electoral campaign indicate that PDD could take votes from the two big parties, especially from Renamo. In the district of Mogovolas thirty three members of Renamo publicly renounced this party in order to join PDD.
Commentators have also stated that the exclusion of Raul Domingos from Renamo can prove to be the biggest political mistake Afonso Dhlakama has made so far, because PDD will weaken the position of Renamo.
Several voters are also tired of Frelimo and frustrated by the way the country is governed. On the other hand they cannot see Renamo as a real alternative. Some of these voters could also opt for PDD as an alternative.
PDD: the balance of power?
The present parliamentary situation in Mozambique is like it has been since the first free elections in 1994. Frelimo has the majority of the seats in the parliament and Renamo has in fact not any real influence.
But if PDD could succeed in taking enough votes from Frelimo and Renamo the small party could be in a position where it would hold the balance of power in the Mozambican parliament.
After nearly thirty years with the same party in power this would create a completely new political reality in Mozambique.
The anteater PDD: a new political power in Mozambique?
Frelimo has been sitting firmly on the power in Mozambique for nearly thirty years. And since the multiparty system was introduced in 1992, Renamo has been the only real opposition. But certain incidents during this years electoral campaign indicate that this could be about to change.
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The headquarters of PDD in Pemba , Cabo Delgao.
Photo: Pr Bergholdt Jensen |
16. November 2004
Earlier on Frelimo and Renamo were considered the only real contenders at the elections in Mozambique. But the appearance of a new party might change the traditional power balance in Mozambican politics.
Exclusion from Renamo and foundation of PDD
The name is PDD (The Party for Peace, Democracy and Development). PDD was founded by the former vice president of Renamo, Raul Domingos, after he was excluded from this party in the year 2000.
The leader of Renamo, Afonso Dhlakama, threw Domingos out, accusing him of having made a secret political deal with Frelimo concerning the elections in 1999 for the presidency and the parliament.
Dhlakama has also during this year’s electoral campaign accused Raul Domingos of having received money to let Frelimo win the 1999 elections. Precisely how this should have happened is not clear.
It is believed that the real reason for expelling Domingos from the Renamo was due to Dhlakama’s wanting to get rid of the more moderate members of the party.
The political anteater
Politically PDD is placed to the left of right wing Renamo. If you want to put a label on The Party for Peace, Democracy and Development it could be seen as a Mozambican version of social liberalism.
PDD has chosen the special Mozambican anteater, the pangolim, as its symbol. According to traditional believes the anteater is a magical animal that is a messenger of changes. And the anteater party PDD could precisely cause political changes.
PDD is still a small party compared to Frelimo and Renamo. But of the smaller parties in Mozambique PDD has undoubtedly been the most active and the best organized during this electoral campaign.
PDD is getting members from Renamo
PDD is predicted to be quite successful at the elections, but these predictions are not very well sustained since there are no credible opinion polls in Mozambique.
None the less, several incidents during the electoral campaign indicate that PDD could take votes from the two big parties, especially from Renamo. In the district of Mogovolas thirty three members of Renamo publicly renounced this party in order to join PDD.
Commentators have also stated that the exclusion of Raul Domingos from Renamo can prove to be the biggest political mistake Afonso Dhlakama has made so far, because PDD will weaken the position of Renamo.
Several voters are also tired of Frelimo and frustrated by the way the country is governed. On the other hand they cannot see Renamo as a real alternative. Some of these voters could also opt for PDD as an alternative.
PDD: the balance of power?
The present parliamentary situation in Mozambique is like it has been since the first free elections in 1994. Frelimo has the majority of the seats in the parliament and Renamo has in fact not any real influence.
But if PDD could succeed in taking enough votes from Frelimo and Renamo the small party could be in a position where it would hold the balance of power in the Mozambican parliament.
After nearly thirty years with the same party in power this would create a completely new political reality in Mozambique.
