Angolan opposition coalition to have parallel vote counting, official says

Manuel Fernandes, the deputy president of Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola – Electoral Coalition. PHOTO | ARNALDO VIEIRA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Manuel Fernandes, the deputy president of Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola – Electoral Coalition, told journalists in Huíla province that his formation would have the parallel system to safeguard against vote rigging.
  • Huíla, which is about 904 kilometres south of the country's capital Luanda, is the second most populous region after the capital.

LUANDA, Wednesday

The Angolan opposition alliance Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola – Electoral Coalition will have parallel vote counting for this year's election, an official said.

Manuel Fernandes, the coalition's deputy president, told journalists in Huíla province that his formation would have the parallel system to safeguard against vote rigging.

Huíla, which is about 904 kilometres south of the country's capital Luanda, is the second most populous region after the capital.

“The national scrutiny centre to be formed for the August elections, will have communal, municipal and provincial representations,” Mr Fernandes said.

He said: “We will have the capacity to determine the credibility of the results before the CNE (National Electoral Commission) makes an official announcement”.

Mr Fernandes said his coalition looked forward to forming the next government.

The election will be Angola’s third since the end of the war in 2002.

Last month, human rights activist and university lecturer Domingos da Cruz unveiled an online application to help people report any electoral irregularities during the election. There were no international observers for Angola’s election in 2012.