General and Provincial Assembly elections, 15 October 2019

Cyclone Kenneth, April 2019 

In April 2019, Cyclone Kenneth struck coastal regions in the northern provinces of Cabo Delgado and Nampula, worsening the situation left by Cyclone Idai. Strong winds and flooding destroyed approximately 85 per cent of the houses in Macomia, Matemo Island, Metuge and Quissanga districts in Cabo Delgado. Roads, bridges, communications networks and power supply systems were damaged too. Kenneth caused the displacement of approximately 300,000 people (UNICEF 2019). 

According to the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC 2023) research shows that rainfall associated with tropical cyclones has become more intense due to global warming, and. Mozambique is one of the countries most vulnerable to and affected by climate change in Africa.  

Impact on the electoral process 

Cyclone Kenneth struck approximately one month after Cyclone Idai, further depleting the facilities and infrastructure set up for voter registration and destroying election materials such as electoral registers, polling cards and printers (Rosario 2022). 

Turnout in 2019 stood at approximately 51.4 per cent, whereas the voter turnout for the election in 2014 stood at approximately 49 per cent (International IDEA n.d.). 

At the time of the elections, Mozambique was also affected political and military conflict including terrorism (Rosario 2022).