Maputo — Mozambique's ruling Frelimo Party has won overwhelming victories in Wednesday's local elections in all five municipalities in its traditional strongholds in the southern province of Gaza, according to the provisional results announced on Thursday by the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE), the electoral branch of the civil service.

In all the municipalities, the Frelimo candidate took over 95 per cent of all valid votes - 96.2 per cent in the provincial capital, Xai-Xai, 97.4 per cent in Macia and in Chokwe, 98.6 per cent in Chibuto, and 98.8 per cent in Manjacaze.

The candidate for mayor of Chokwe from the former rebel movement Renamo, Julio Cuna, immediately accepted his defeat, and said he was willing to collaborate with the new municipal authorities. He attacked the Renamo leadership, saying that it had offered no assistance to his campaign in Chokwe.

The detailed results for the five municipalities are given below, for both the mayoral and municipal assembly elections:

Xai-Xai

Mayoral election

Rita Muianga (Frelimo): 32,310 Bento Mavie (Renamo) 1,272

Municipal assembly election

Frelimo: 31,571 Renamo: 1,400

Macia

Mayoral election

Reginaldo Mariquele (Frelimo): 9,539 Ibraimo Premucy (Renamo): 249

Municipal assembly election

Frelimo: 9,374 Renamo: 250

Chokwe

Mayoral election

Jorge Macuacua (Frelimo): 16,038 Julio Cuna (Renamo): 424

Municipal assembly election

Frelimo: 15,824 Renamo: 404

Chibuto

Mayoral election

Francisco Mandhlate (Frelimo): 17,135 Pedro Pelembe (Renamo): 249

Municipal assembly election

Frelimo: 16,990 Renamo: 241

Manjacaze

Mayoral election

Maria Langa (Frelimo): 3,713 Sarmento Malombe (Renamo) 45

Municipal assembly election

Frelimo: 3,672 Renamo: 56