Regional Overview
Mozambique
Mozambique's ruling party Frelimo won the 15 October presidential elections, with their candidate, Filipe Nyusi, recieving 57.3 per cent of the votes. In the simultaneous parliamentary elections, Frelimo won 144 seats, Renamo won 89 seats and the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) 17 seats. Voter turnout was estimated at about 49 per cent.
Botswana
Botswana's president Ian Khama was sworn in for his second term on 28 October after winning the re-election. Khama's party won 37 of the 57 elected seats in parliament in Friday’s vote. A newly formed coalition, Umbrella for Democratic Change, took 17 seats to become the main opposition group.
Zambia
Zambian President Sata died in London last week aged 77 while undergoing treatment for an undisclosed illness. Vice President Guy Scott has taken over as acting president until an election is held within 90 days.
Comoros
Mass demonstrations last week saw the closure of schools and shops as citizens protest against current conditions, including power outages and water shortages.
In Focus: Malawi
The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment committee released the 2014/2015 national food security forecast. According to the report, a total of 640,009 people (4% of the projected total population) will not be able to meet their annual food requirement during this consumption period. The total humanitarian food required to support the vulnerable population is estimated at 15,830 mt maize equivalent and a cash equivalent of USD 4,054,602.
