The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, has attended the Southern African nation's annual celebrations for its Armed Forces Day, also known as Revolution Day, as the country gears up for a general election next month.  

Campaign began in Mozambique on Saturday, six weeks before the southern African nation goes to the polls in a general election.

Voters will cast ballots for president, parliament and regional authorities in the October 9 poll, in which the current 69-year-old President cannot stand for another term.

Nyusi's ruling Frelimo party has won every national election in the country since the end of a brutal civil war it fought with Renamo, the main opposition and a former rebel group.

The presidential contest will see the ruling party's Daniel Chapo, a 47-year-old provincial governor, face off against Renamo's Ossufo Momade.

The other two candidates for president are Lutero Simango, 64, from the country's second opposition party Democratic Movement of Mozambique, and former Renamo member Venancio Mondlane, 50, who is running as an independent.

Meanwhile, Electoral commission president Carlos Matsinhe had called for a peaceful campaign, urging candidates to refrain from inciting hatred.

In October, at least two people were killed in protests over the results of local elections, which saw police open fire on demonstrators in several cities.