MOZAMBIQUE: GUEBUZA INAUGURATED AS PRESIDENT

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000158 SIPDIS SENSITIVE AF/FO AND AF/S - TREGER MCC FOR BRIGGS AND GAULL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM MZ SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: GUEBUZA INAUGURATED AS PRESIDENT REF: A. MAPUTO 150 ¶B. MAPUTO 146 AND PREVIOUS Sensitive but unclassified -- Not for Internet Distribution. ¶1. (U) On February 2 FRELIMO secretary general Armando Guebuza was inaugurated as President of the Republic of Mozambique. Several southern African heads of state, numerous foreign dignitaries and a large local crowd were on hand to witness the accession to power of Mozambique second democratically elected president since the end of the civil war in 1992. Guebuza succeeds Joaquim Chissano, who leaves after a period of eighteen years in office. Among the notable guests were President Mbeki of South Africa, President Sampaio of Portugal, President Mugabe of Zimbabwe, and Brazilian Vice President Jose Alencar. The Peace Corps' Africa Regional Director Henry McKoy and the Ambassador represented the United States. Noticeably absent was RENAMO opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama (in fact, no RENAMO politicians were present),who in December 2004 lost his third bid for the presidency, winning only 32 percent of the vote against Guebuza's 64 percent (ref B). ¶2. (U) President Guebuza used his inaugural address to reiterate the FRELIMO electoral manifesto, pledging to focus his government's efforts on eradicating poverty (ref A). To do so, he promised to fight "bureaucracy," corruption and crime. Guebuza stated that he would seek out men and women of integrity to serve in his administration. He urged the opposition to take an active, responsible role in advancing the consolidation of peace and democracy in the country. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: Despite the heat and glare of a sunny summer morning, both ex-President Chissano's short speech and President Guebuza's somewhat longer address were well delivered and attentively received. This transition has a more disciplined tone to it than prevailed in the Chissano administration. Guebuza close hold on the names of new ministers has left many in town nervous over their future. According to the press, President Guebuza will announce his new cabinet within the next 48 hours. LALIME