By Ditaba Tsotetsi

Maputo says it has issued a number of invites to Southern African Development Community countries, the African Union and other guests. But several countries have decided to send their Vice-Presidents, Foreign Ministers and other envoys.

The inauguration has been preceded by violent demonstrations after opposition leader Venancio Mondlane claimed that the polls were rigged. Frente de Libertacao Mocambique (FRELIMO) has dismissed the claims.

Mozambique is on tenterhooks as President-elect Daniel Chapo will be sworn in. The 47-year-old is the former Governor of Inhambane. He also had a stint as a Television Presenter and a qualified lawyer.

Chapo will take over from Filipe Nyusi, who is stepping down. He will become the first president not to have been a fighter during the 16-year-long civil war between Frelimo and Renamo.

He says his priority will be to unite the country.

During the campaign trail, he met with the African National Congress, a former liberation movement, that also enjoys close ties with FRELIMO.

Chapo will inherit a battered economy, following weeks of demonstrations masterminded by opposition leader, Venancio Mondlane, who claims he won the hotly contested polls.

He will have to deal with unemployment, corruption and other social ills, that have angered especially young Mozambicans, who were at the forefront of the recent protests.

--SABC--