Smooth Election in Mozambique
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MAPUTO, Mozambique — Mozambique’s poor, many carrying small children, formed long lines Wednesday to pick a replacement for a president who has ruled the impoverished African country for 18 years.
Over two days of voting, Mozambique will pick a successor to retiring President Joaquim Chissano, who is stepping down after two elected terms.
Chissano’s Frelimo party has ruled for 30 years, but even Frelimo candidate Armando Guebuza -- Chissano’s hand-picked successor -- has promised to fight corruption in the government bureaucracy.
Guebuza and former rebel leader Afonso Dhlakama of the opposition Renamo party -- a former guerrilla movement -- are the top contenders among five candidates. Seventeen parties are running for parliament.
“The people want change. It is the most important thing in Mozambique,” Dhlakama said Wednesday. “Even if a party has done very well, when it lasts 15 or 30 years, then people want change. And that is what will happen here.”
Observers said the election was proceeding in a smooth and orderly fashion.
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