“Everything is going very well. I have voted and my sister also voted without problems,” Maputo resident Ana Paula Orlando said in an article published on News 24. In spite of rampant violence and military/rebel clashes, Mozambicans made their way to the polls voting for local presidents and township officials, the report said.

Late Last month, Bloomberg reported that the country experienced the worst violence in 20 years. The Military of Mozambique and Mozambique National Resistance Army — otherwise known as Renamo — met in a violent battle which left more than 50 citizens dead.

With tension and uncertainty still circulating, close to 3.5 million town members — a sixth of the population — showed up Wednesday to cast votes, the report said.

“The problem we saw was a lack of confidence between people and the police, particularly in municipalities controlled by the opposition. People were afraid,” Guillherme Mbilana, Mozambique Electoral Observatory Director said in an AFP report.

“These elections in general were calm but there was a lot of fear caused by problems between the government and Renamo, but they went off without attacks,” he said.

Shortly after the polls closed, several publications announced Mozambique ruling party FRELIMO’s lead. The has lead and succeeded in every election since 1992. According to AFP, minor incidents which voters who lingered around election sites were calmed by police.

At least 53 municipalities participated in the elections, according to News 24.