Mauritius Prime Minister-elect Pravind Kumar Jugnaut. File photo
from HANSLEY NABAB in Port Louis, Mauritius
PORT LOUIS, (CAJ News) – AFTER his re-election in a poll accepted by regional observers and some of his rivals, Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, has pledged to grow and diversify the island country’s economy.
He pledged to address wealth imbalances after the weekend’s victory of the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM).
Of the 62 seats, the MSM won 38.
Turnout for the election was 76,84 percent, a 2 percent increase from the 2014 elections.
“I have obtained a clear mandate to continue to work towards progress and development in this country,” Jugnauth (57) said.
He is entitled to a new five-year term.
Formerly the Prime Minister, Jugnauth, had earlier succeeded his father, Anerood Jugnauth, in 2017.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional electoral observer mission, led by Zimbabwe’s foreign minister, Sibusiso Moyo, declared the weekend poll as peaceful, free, fair and professionally organised.
“All polling stations were accessible to all voters including people with disabilities and these voters were given priority except at one polling station. Voter education materials, such as posters were posted outside all polling stations except for two,” Moyo told media here in Port Louis.
Paul Bérenger, opposition Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) leader, whose party garnered nine seats, said would accept the election outcome to ensure peace, democracy and rule of law prevailed in the Southern African country.
“I will ask everybody to respect the results without bitterness. Let us put Mauritius first,” Bérenger pleaded.
Mauritius, with a population of 1,3 million people, has an economy heavily reliant on agriculture, exports, financial services and tourism.
The Indian Ocean island nation, which is being hailed as an investment destination of choice owing to its enviable democratic history enjoys foreign direct investment of 10,68 billion Rupees (US$295 million) in the past six months, up from MUR 8,84 billion (Mauritian Rupees) in the same period last year.
– CAJ News