"I'm satisfied with what I saw and, so far, I haven't heard any noise. From what I see yesterday and today [Wednesday and Thursday] on television, I have the impression that everything is still calm", said Joaquim Chissano, who played down the criticism of the opposition, led by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), to the electoral process.
"The discussions that take place are normal, everyone defends their point of view", but "everyone agreed to participate" in the elections "and the partial results are coming out now".
On Wednesday, as an observer invited by the President of the Republic, who is running for a second term for the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), Chissano witnessed a "very peaceful process".
"I was able to watch the count in an assembly with eight tables and at all tables the delegates and staff of the CNE (National Electoral Commission) were doing their job with expertise," he said.
"When there were doubts about the marking of ballot papers, sometimes there could be a contrary opinion, but this is normal", minimized the former Mozambican head of state who had already been to Nairobi this month, in the Kenyan elections, also as an observer.
In Kenya, the authorities "had abolished posting the minutes in windows" with the results of each polling station and "that made a little noise" and was criticized by observers.
In Angola, the summary minutes, signed by delegates from all parties in each assembly, were published and the data are being counted by the CNE.
"I am satisfied", said Chissano, admitting that, in Kenya, the biometric registration allowed to better validate the vote of each voter, minimizing fraud.
In Angola, there is no biometric registration and there were cases of voters voting with expired documents, but Joaquim Chissano minimized this difference.
"Countries cannot be forced to know all the technologies. What is needed is to comply with the method agreed with the opposition and this is being done here", he summarized.
