The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre), in collaboration with MISA Mozambique, will host a webinar to launch the Mozambique Elections Report titled “Proactive Disclosure of Information During Elections: An Assessment of Mozambique's Compliance with the Guidelines on Access to Information and Elections in Africa during the 2024 General Elections.” 

Event Details

Date : September 3, 2026
Time : 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Format: Virtual
Link : https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/337337777527485?p=IpWwSBsg6LmHx7ShRN
Meeting ID : 337 337 777 527 485
Passcode : H8g2CE7a

The Centre for Human Rights is an internationally recognised academic and research institution within the Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria. It promotes human rights, democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law through research, teaching, advocacy, capacity building and engagement with regional and international human rights institutions. Its work includes a strong focus on freedom of expression, access to information, digital rights, electoral processes and democratic governance across Africa.

MISA Mozambique is part of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, a regional non-governmental organisation established to promote and defend media freedom, freedom of expression and access to information in Southern Africa. MISA Mozambique works to strengthen the media environment in Mozambique, including through advocacy, monitoring, research and engagement with public institutions and other stakeholders on issues affecting journalists, media freedom and access to information.

This webinar will convene voices from academia, civil society, media, youth formations, election officials, and public institutions to interrogate the extent to which Mozambique’s electoral stakeholders complied with the Guidelines on Access to Information and Elections in Africa, adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in 2017. Drawing on qualitative research methods, including document analysis and stakeholder interviews, the report assesses compliance using indicators such as complied, partially complied, and not complied. The findings demonstrate notable gaps in proactive disclosure across key institutions involved in Mozambique’s 2024 general elections.

The National Election Commission (CNE) and the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) failed to proactively publish a public, verifiable voters’ roll, did not disclose disaggregated voter data, and lacked transparent decision-making processes. Despite legal provisions, the appointing authority for electoral bodies was characterised by political bias, a lack of transparency in candidate selection, and non-disclosure of members’ remuneration and asset declarations.

State-controlled media, including Radio Moçambique and Televisão de Moçambique (TVM), provided disproportionately favourable coverage to the ruling party (FRELIMO), while opposition parties and independent candidates received limited airtime. Journalists faced harassment, arbitrary arrests, and physical attacks, with perpetrators enjoying impunity.

Digital and social media platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp, X) played a central role in political communication, particularly among urban youth. However, they also amplified misinformation, disinformation and fake news. During the electoral period, the government implemented an internet shutdown, directly contradicting the Guidelines and restricting citizens’ access to critical information and their ability to engage in democratic dialogue.

Law enforcement agencies used excessive force against post-election protesters, resulting in over 100 deaths, and were accused of partisanship and intimidation of opposition figures. Election observers and civil society organisations (CSOs) faced operational constraints, including denial of access to polling stations and a lack of transparency regarding their own funding sources.

The report concludes with targeted recommendations to Parliament, the appointing authority, the Electoral Management Body (CNE/STAE), law enforcement agencies, political parties, media and internet regulatory bodies (INCM), media platforms, observer missions, and CSOs. It also urges compliance with the Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Digital and Social Media in Elections in Africa.

Through dialogue and evidence-based engagement, the event will promote accountability, transparency, and responsible information governance in electoral contexts, while advancing the protection of human rights and democratic integrity in the digital age.

Background

Access to information is a foundational component of democratic governance and a prerequisite for credible elections. In the African context, the Guidelines on Access to Information and Elections in Africa articulate clear standards for proactive disclosure, equitable media access, transparency in electoral administration, and protection against information manipulation.

The rapid digitisation of political communication has transformed electoral processes. Social media platforms have expanded civic participation and political mobilisation, but they have also intensified the risks of coordinated disinformation, online harassment, hate speech, and algorithmic amplification of polarising narratives. In fragile or highly contested electoral environments, information disorder can undermine public trust, fuel political tensions, and threaten peace.

Mozambique’s 9 October 2024 general elections took place in this complex digital and political ecosystem. The elections were marked by deep-seated public mistrust, allegations of irregularities (“ghost voters”), unequal access to state media, an internet shutdown, and violent post-election protests. Questions regarding transparency, equitable media access, and online information integrity were central to domestic and international assessments of the electoral process.

This webinar situates the Mozambique report within broader continental debates on digital governance, electoral integrity, and the evolving responsibilities of state and non-state actors. It provides an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned and to strengthen normative frameworks for future electoral cycles across Africa.

Objectives

The webinar aims to:

• Launch and disseminate the Mozambique Elections Report to a national, regional, and international audience;
• Critically assess compliance with the Guidelines on Access to Information and Elections in Africa during Mozambique’s 2024 general elections;
• Examine the role of digital and social media in shaping electoral information ecosystems, including the impact of internet shutdowns;
• Identify institutional, legal, and policy reforms required to enhance proactive disclosure, media independence, and electoral transparency;
• Strengthen collaboration among electoral stakeholders, civil society, academia, and media actors to safeguard information integrity and democratic participation.=

Themes

Discussions during the webinar will be centred on themes such as:

• Proactive disclosure and transparency by Electoral Management Bodies (CNE and STAE), including voter roll management;
• Equitable access to public broadcasting and media regulation during elections, including state media bias;
• Digital platforms, misinformation, disinformation, and internet shutdowns in electoral contexts;
• Harassment of journalists and the culture of impunity;
• Law enforcement, use of force, accountability, and protection of civic space;
• Transparency and funding of election observers and civil society organisations;
• Operationalising continental standards: Implementing the Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Digital and Social Media in Elections in Africa.

Outputs

• Official public launch of the Mozambique Elections Report;
• A policy brief summarising key findings and recommendations for Mozambican stakeholders;
• A webinar communiqué highlighting priority actions for electoral stakeholders ahead of future elections;
• Strengthened regional and national networks on information integrity and electoral governance.

Expected outcomes

The webinar is expected to:

• Increase awareness of continental standards on access to information and elections among Mozambican and African stakeholders;
• Foster informed, evidence-based dialogue on electoral transparency, digital governance and the importance of uninterrupted internet access;
• Encourage concrete commitments by Mozambique’s electoral stakeholders to improve proactive disclosure practices, media independence and law enforcement accountability;
• Contribute to strengthening electoral integrity and the protection of human rights in digitally mediated political environments;
• Support the development of practical strategies to mitigate misinformation, disinformation, online hate speech and electoral violence in future elections.

For more information, please contact:

Slaide Mutemba
MISA Mozambique
s.mutemba@misa.org.mz 

Belinda Matore
Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
br.matore@up.ac.za 

Ivy Gikonyo
Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
ivy.gikonyo@up.ac.za