MAPUTO, 19 DECEMBER (SARDC) - The final results of the second municipal elections held in 33 Mozambican municipalities on 19 November and announced in mid-December, confirmed the victory of the ruling party, FRELIMO.

The results, announced by the National Electoral Commission (CNE) after a lengthy process of checking figures and allocation of seats, show that the council of almost all municipalities will be dominated by the ruling party or by the main opposition party Renamo-União Eleitoral (RUE). Tiny parties such as PIMO (Independent Party of Mozambique), UPI (United for the Island), OCINA (Nacala Citizen's Group), IPADE (Institute for Peace and Democracy) and UM (Union for Change) will be represented with one seat in some municipalities.

The final results show a minor alteration in Marromeu, Sofala Province, where the victory went to the opposition, contrasting with the partial and intermediary results that had given victory to FRELIMO. However, the ruling party holds a majority in the local assembly. This means that FRELIMO will have full control of 28 municipalities, instead of 29, while RUE will control the remaining five.

According to final results, FRELIMO scored significant victories in Maputo city (the capital), Matola, Manhica, Xai-Xai, Chokwe, Manjacaze, Chibuto, Maxixe, Inhambane and Vilanculos, in the southern provinces of Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane, and in Dondo, Chimoio, Manica, Catandica, Tete, Moatize, Quelimane, Mocuba, Gurue and Milange, in the central provinces of Sofala, Manica, Tete and Zambezia. In the north, FRELIMO scored in Nampula city, Monapo, Pemba city, Montepuez, Lichinga, Cuamba and Metangula.

RUE secured victories in Beira city and Morromeu, in Sofala province, and Mozambique Island, Angoche and Nacala, in Nampula.

The results confirm the bipolarisation of Mozambican politics. Ten minor parties and independent civic groups, which entered the contest, won just seven seats in the municipal assemblies. JPC (Together for the City) in Maputo City won five seats, "Union for Change" and "united for the Island" won one seat each, in Gurue and Mozambique Island respectively.

FRELIMO's lead had already been announced after the partial and intermediary results but, according to the electoral law, only the electoral commission has legal powers to announce final results, which still have to be validated by the Constitutional Council. Before announcing the results, the commission's spokesperson, Filipe Mandlate, read a long statement rejecting all complaints made by RUE.

RUE had lodged complaints over what they called fraud and irregularities during the elections, which allegedly favoured FRELIMO in almost half of the municipalities. Mandlate said the CNE had concluded that RUE could produce no evidences or proof and in some cases the complaints were not related to the elections process itself.

In statements issued separately, observers from the European Union, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries(CPLP) , the Carter Centre and Commonwealth considered the elections generally free and fair.

The results were published a day after RUE deputies in the National Assembly had abandoned its ongoing session over allegations that the CNE was falsifying the results. After the announcement, Manuel Frank, a senior member of RUE said his coalition did not agree with the results and would make a submission to the Constitutional Council.

FRELIMO, which fought for the independence of Mozambique from the Portuguese has been ruling the country since 1975. Since the introduction of multiparty democracy in 1990, it has won the two general elections (1994, 1999) and municipal elections in 1998 (which RUE boycotted) and 2003. However, the 2003 results mean that FRELIMO will experience the taste of being opposition in some municipalities while RUE will gain experience of governing.

Below are the full results for the municipal assemblies, as given by the CNE.

Cabo Delgado province

Niassa province