Mozambique: election campaigning begins

Today sees the official start of campaigning for parliamentary, presidential and provincial elections in Mozambique.

These elections could prove seriously damaging to the main opposition party, Renamo, and its longtime leader, Afonso Dhlakama.

Since the end of civil war in 1992, not only has Dhlakama's former guerilla movement failed to oust the ruling Frelimo party through the ballot box, he himself has failed to win in three presidential elections.

Also, after suffering heavy losses in last year's mayoral elections, Renamo now faces stiff competition from ex-comrades who have split off to form the break-away Democratic Movement of Mozambique.

Meanwhile, the national electoral commission, the CNE, has been accused of favouring the big parties after excluding several smaller ones from fielding candidates in some or all constituencies, as Jose Tembe reports from Maputo.