Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MAPUTO1631
2005-12-20 08:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Maputo
Cable title:  

MOZAMBIQUE: GUEBUZA LEADS FRELIMO CENTRAL

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM MZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0835
PP RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHTO #1631 3540840
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200840Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4751
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
UNCLAS MAPUTO 001631 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

FOR AF/S HTREGER
NSC FOR CCOURVILLE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: GUEBUZA LEADS FRELIMO CENTRAL
COMMITTEE SESSION; NEXT PARTY CONGRESS ADVANCED TO 2006

REF: A. MAPUTO 01449

B. MAPUTO 00313

UNCLAS MAPUTO 001631

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

FOR AF/S HTREGER
NSC FOR CCOURVILLE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: GUEBUZA LEADS FRELIMO CENTRAL
COMMITTEE SESSION; NEXT PARTY CONGRESS ADVANCED TO 2006

REF: A. MAPUTO 01449

B. MAPUTO 00313


1. (U) On December 18, the Central Committee of Mozambique's
ruling party, FRELIMO, concluded a four-day meeting that
gathered its 175 members to debate a wide range of issues,
including plans for the upcoming electoral cycle,
achievements under the new FRELIMO government, the HIV/AIDS
pandemic, and the GRM's response to the current drought
crisis. This is the first time the Central Committee --
considered one of the party's most important decision making
bodies, behind only the powerful 15-member Political
Commission -- has met since President Guebuza replaced former
president Joaquim Chissano as president of the party in March
2005 (ref B).


2. (U) Opening the meeting, Guebuza called on members of the
Central Committee to contribute to the presence of the
FRELIMO party on "all fronts." He stressed the need to
properly prepare for the next electoral cycle, slated to
begin in 2007 with elections for the first-ever provincial
assemblies. The 2007 elections will be followed by the
country's third municipal elections in 2008 and its fourth
presidential and legislative elections in 2009. To
accommodate this electoral timetable, the Central Committee
decided during the four-day meeting to advance the Party
Congress by a year, now to be held in 2006 instead of 2007
(Note: The Party Congress is usually held every five years,
the last one being convened in 2002. End note). According to
the Central Committee spokesperson, convening the congress
early will allow FRELIMO the time needed to reorganize and
strengthen itself ahead of the 2007 elections.


3. (U) Speaking on FRELIMO's ability to achieve its campaign
slogan, "A Force of Change," Guebuza cited the recent
agreement between Mozambique and Portugal under which, within
a year, Mozambique will purchase a majority stake in the
Cahora Bassa dam, the largest producer of hydro-electric
power in southern Africa (ref A). He used the platform to
reiterate the need for the Central Committee and all party
members to lead the fight against corruption, bureaucracy,
and red tape so that public services may be rendered more
quickly and efficiently to all of Mozambique's citizens.
Guebuza also stressed the need for expanded efforts in the
area of HIV/AIDS prevention in order to combat the pandemic
in Mozambique and highlighted the GRM's current efforts to
address the ongoing drought, which include the construction
and rehabilitation of the country's reservoir systems.


4. (SBU) Comment: The run-up to this Central Committee
meeting featured rumors of growing infighting between
opposing Guebuza and Chissano camps within FRELIMO. However,
the tumultuous debate that many expected did not materialize,
and it now appears that Guebuza has succeeded in
consolidating his power base within the party. At the
moment, Guebuza's biggest political adversaries may lie, not
in other factions of the party, but in rising fuel prices and
the increased cost of living faced by average Mozambicans.
End comment.
Dudley