Mozambique opposition rejects partial poll results

By Charles Mangwiro

MAPUTO (Reuters) Mozambique's main opposition Renamo party on Tuesday rejected partial results of last week's general election, accusing the ruling Frelimo of stuffing ballot boxes.

According to figures released on Sunday, Frelimo was headed for a resounding victory in the national polls that would allow it to change the constitution at will and hand President Armando Guebuza a second term in office.

Renamo candidate Afonso Dhlakama was seen taking 15 percent of the vote in the presidential contest, with Davis Simango, head of the new Movement for Democratic Change (MDM), in third place with 10 percent.

Renamo electoral office spokeswoman Ivone Soares said the October 28 presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections were fraudulent.

She accused electoral commission officials of distributing extra ballot papers to Frelimo members and supporters, enabling them to stuff ballot boxes.

"This kind of fraud, on its own, shows that the elections were neither free nor transparent," said Soares.

The MDM, which split from Renamo, the former rebel movement that is now the main opposition, had been seen as close behind Guebuza until many of its candidates were barred because of registration irregularities. That raised questions over the integrity of the polls.

Millionaire businessman Guebuza is seen as welcoming greater investment in a country with tourist potential and untapped mineral and energy resources that have started to draw foreign companies, particularly from neighbouring South Africa.