Maputo — Mozambique's main trade union federation, the OTM (Mozambican Workers' Organisation), on Friday announced its full support for the ruling Frelimo party in next week's general and provincial elections.

OTM President Carlos Mucareia announced that the decision was taken at a meeting of the organisation's Executive Committee held that day in Maputo.

He told reporters that the OTM had decided to support Frelimo, and the re-election of President Armando Guebuza because the Frelimo election manifesto "represents the best proposals and alternatives for the economic and social development of the country, for the generation of new jobs and self-employment, and for the fight against poverty".

The OTM also praised the generally peaceful conduct of the election campaign, and urged Mozambican workers to go en masse to the polling stations on 28 October "to vote in an orderly, conscious and peaceful manner"

Mucareia said that the OTM's decision "has nothing to do with party affiliation. The OTM is independent of political parties, and of other non-trade union bodies. But if these organizations do something good, it should be recognized as such".

"The OTM has decided to support Frelimo because it has concluded that Frelimo is giving undertakings that will best serve society, and the workers in particular", he added.

The OTM was established in 1983, in the days of the one party state, as one of Frelimo's "mass organizations". In 1992, it formally broke its ties with Frelimo and declared itself independent of political parties.