The former guerrilla movement said “it was not possible” to say the elections had been free and fair, as voting had been extended for an unscheduled second day after 320 centres across the country failed to open on time on September 5, and in locations where there had been problems with the supply of ballot papers. Unita also alleged that people had been allowed to vote without proper identification.
But in a news conference held shortly after the national electoral commission had dismissed its complaints, Unita leader Isaías Samakuva said he accepted the outcome of the poll and praised the incumbent MPLA party, hoping it “governs in the interest of all Angolans”.
“After about 80 per cent of valid votes have been counted, despite all that has happened, the leadership of Unita accepts the results of the elections,” Mr Samakuva said. Other opposition parties echoed Unita’s acceptance of the outcome of Angola’s first elections in 16 years.
Late today, the MPLA party secured a landslide victory in the election setting the stage for changes that critics fear could make the presidency even more powerful and weaker other institutions.
The MPLA took 82 per cent of the vote based on provisional final results released today, and crushed the opposition in all 18 provinces. It puts the MPLA on track to win at least 170 of 220 seats in parliament -- nearly 80 per cent of seats.
International election observers, while accepting the result, criticised aspects of the poll.
An African Union team said although it was free and fair, the MPLA had benefited from unfair access to the state-dominated media. The European Union noted problems with the organisation of the election, but concluded that people had clearly voted massively for the MPLA.
The US Embassy congratulated Angolans “on their participation in this important step in strengthening their democracy” but noted the procedural problems encountered with the ballot, and hoped valuable lessons would be learnt for Angola’s future polls, beginning with next year’s presidential elections.
Mr Alceides Sakala, head of the Unita’s parliamentary group, said: “As far as Luanda is concerned, it was a scandal, the way it was organised.” The European Union observer mission on Friday had called the vote “a disaster”.
Angolans turned out in force to vote for the first time since the end of the country’s devastating 27-year civil war in 2002 that claimed 500,000 lives.
Unita, whose guerrillas fought the MPLA in a 27-year civil war following independence from Portugal in 1975, branded the election as unfair before it began, and accused the MPLA of misusing state funds and resources for campaigning.
Angola held one attempted election in 1992 - but Unita, the Union for the Total Independence of Angola, claimed it was fixed, withdrew and new hostilities started.