Anastacio Matavel from the Hall of Peace organization was gunned down by unknown assassins in the government stronghold of Gaza.

The killing of the Anastacio Matavel , as he left a training session in the Gaza capital Xai Xai, has been condemned by election observation groups from the Commonwealth, the African Union, the European Union and the Johannesburg-based Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa.

Two of his assassins were killed in a car crash minutes after fleeing the scene.

Another two escaped and are being hunted by police.

Mozambique’s election campaign has been marred by violence. 

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The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy, known as EISA found more  registration brigades despatched to FRELIMO strongholds.

EISA had eleven observers – seven of them international and four locals – looking at voter registration at 112 centres in 21 municipalities in seven Mozambican provinces.

The observers found that the increase in registration teams since the previous election in 2014 was greater in Frelimo areas  like Gaza than in was in areas like Nampula which is traditionally identified as supporting  the opposition Renamo party.

EISA found this was the mechanism used to increase voter registration in areas known to have a strong dominance of the ruling party.

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The envoy was recalled in May in protest against the killing of more than 40 Palestinian protesters in Gaza by Israeli security forces.

Palestinian support groups expressed outrage when they learned that South Africa’s Ambassador to Tel Aviv Sisa Ngombane was back in Israel. He would leave as soon as this was done.

The Department of International Relations and co-operation quickly reacted, saying Ngombane had gone to TelAviv to tend to private family business.

It said the reasons for his recall remain relevant and any return would be properly announced.

The South African Government is under pressure to implement the decision taken by the ruling African National Congress last December to downgrade relations with Israel.

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The presidents are due to give a joint press conference later where they’ll sign a memorandum of understanding on the future of Palestine and South Africa’s cooperation with it.

Mahmoud Abbas has been to South Africa before.

But this is his first official visit.

South Africa belongs to the group of countries advocating the recognition of the state of Palestine living side by side with Israel.

It sent special envoy to meet with both sides in a bid to secure an end to the bloody two-month war between Israel and Hamas that left thousands dead in Gaza earlier this year.

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Chile is a current member of the United Nations Security Council. More Palestinains live in Chile than any other country outside the Middle East

President Michelle Bachelet, who’s on a state visit says Chile and South Africa are examples of how people live together in peace developing common objectives.

Chile will continue working as a UN Security Council member for a ceasefire and peace negotiations in the Middle East.

President Jacob Zuma, flanking her at the briefing, called for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations towards a two-state solution.

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