Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, has been covered in red banners for weeks. Red is the color of Frelimo, the "Liberation Front of Mozambique."

Especially since August 24 — the day when the election campaign officially kicked off — the Frelimo shade of red can be seen everywhere.

Frelimo has ruled Mozambique uninterrupted since the African nation gained independence nearly 50 years ago, and it looks set to continue on that path.

But President Filipe Nyusi, who has led the country for 10 years, is not allowed to run again after completing two terms. Frelimo had to find a fresh candidate: The 47-year-old Daniel Chapo has been the governor of Inhambane province for the past eight years.

The face of the former radio host and law lecturer is omnipresent on posters plastered on houses, walls, fences and huge outdoor billboards in Maputo, Beira, Nampula, Quelimane and other cities across Mozambique — almost as much as Frelimo's emblematic red banners and flags featuring a drum and a corn cob, which are the party's symbols.

A total of 36 political parties have been allowed to run for the 250 parliamentary seats, alongside the ruling Frelimo.

However, compared to the ruling party's campaign, the others are barely noticeable in everyday life: A few scattered posters on major avenues in the cities are typically all there is to see of Frelimo's opponents.

It's difficult to discern what they may or may not stand for: featuring the faces of the presidential candidates they support, the posters........

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