They were the first elections after independence from Portugal, and FRELIMO was the sole legal party.

[1] Direct elections were only held for local and city councils, starting on 25 September.

[2] These councils then elected members of their local councils to the District Assemblies, which in turn elected representatives to the Provincial Assemblies.

FRELIMO produced a single list of shortlisted candidates for the newly created 226-seat People's Assembly, the country's top legislative body.

The candidate list was unanimously adopted by the Provincial Assemblies at their first session.