Maputo — Voting got off to a brisk start on Wednesday in Mozambique's general and provincial elections.

Across the country, reports broadcast on Radio Mozambique suggested that most of the polling stations did indeed open on time, at 07.00.

Among the first to vote was President Armando Guebuza, who is standing for re-election. He voted at a polling station in a Maputo secondary school, and in a brief statement urged all registered voters to make their way to the polls early in the morning.

The Maputo electorate seems to be heeding his advice. Certainly in the polling stations nearest to the AIM offices, long queues had built up by 07.30, snaking around the corner into the next street.

Unlike previous general elections, polling will take place on one day, and not two. There are also three ballot papers (for the presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections), whereas in the past there have been just two.

To ensure that everyone can vote, the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE), the electoral branch of the Mozambican civil service, has increased the number of election staff from five to seven per polling station, at least one of whom will organise the queues, and ensure that voters are directed to the correct station.

Voters will be able to consult the electoral register at the door of the polling station, so that they know what page their names are on.

In large polling stations there are three, rather than two, voting booths, in order to speed up the throughput of voters.

The Labour Ministry, after consultation with the trade unions and the employers' associations, has declared Wednesday a public holiday, to allow all workers the chance to vote.

Pf/ (291)