Portuguese Mozambican Legislative Assembly election, 1973

Mozambique
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Mozambique
President Filipe Nyusi Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosário Assembly Recent elections General: 2009 2014 Political parties Administrative divisions Provinces Districts Postos Foreign relations
Other countries Atlas Politics portal

Elections to a Legislative Assembly were held for the first and only time in Portuguese Mozambique in March 1973.

Background

On 2 May 1972 the Portuguese National Assembly passed the Organic Law for the Overseas Territories, which provided for greater autonomy for overseas territories.^[1] Mozambique was to have a 50-member Legislative Assembly, of which 20 would be elected. The remainder would be nominated by public services, religious groups and business groups.^[1]

Candidates were required to be Portuguese citizens who had lived in Mozambique for more than three years and be able to read and write Portuguese. Voters were required to be literate.^[1] As the Portuguese constitution banned political parties at the time, the majority of candidates were put forward by the ruling People's National Action movement, although some civic associations were allowed to nominate candidates.^[1]

Results

Out of a total population of 7,376,000, only 109,171 people registered to vote. Of these, 100,542 voted, giving a voter turnout of 92.1%.^[1] Of all the Portuguese colonies holding Legislative Assembly elections, Mozambique was the only one to have a non-white majority of its membership, with 26 of the 50 members being non-white.^[2] The 26 non-white members included 18 Africans, three coloureds, three Indians, one Goan and one Chinese.^[1]

References

Elections in Mozambique Presidential elections 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 Parliamentary elections 1973 1977 1986 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 Provincial elections 2009 2014 District elections 1998 2003 2008