Voters satisfied with the economic policies instituted by Mozambique"s ruling party were expected to keep it in power following today"s elections despite questions about its commitment to democracy in this southeastern African nation, according to Reuters. Free-market reforms instituted by President Armando Guebuza"s once-Marxist Frelimo party have delivered growth rates as high as 10 percent per year, making it the world"s fastest-growing economy at one point, even though much of the country still lives in poverty. «He built a lot of schools, roads, bridges, hospitals and health units during his first term of office,» Ana Maria, a 24-year-old student, said of Guebuza. «Let us give him another chance.» The Frelimo party has been in power since independence from Portugal in 1975 and has won every vote since Mozambique"s first multiparty election in 1994. Nineteen parties are taking part in Wednesday"s presidential, parliamentary and provincial assemblies elections. Results are expected Nov. 1.
