MOZAMBIQUE: GUEBUZA REPLACES CHISSANO AS FRELIMO

C O N F I D E N T I A L MAPUTO 000313

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR AF/S - HTREGER
MCC FOR GAULL AND HARRINGTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2010
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PINR MZ FRELIMO
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: GUEBUZA REPLACES CHISSANO AS FRELIMO
PARTY PRESIDENT

REF: MAPUTO 00146

Classified By: Ambassador Helen La Lime for reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (U) On March 4, FRELIMO's Central Committee announced that
former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano had voluntarily
stepped down from his post as president of the ruling FRELIMO
party. Shortly thereafter, Mozambique's newly-elected
President Armando Guebuza was named his successor by the
177-member FRELIMO Central Committee. The move is in keeping
with FRELIMO's history of filling the post of party president
with the current head of state, a practice in place since the
country's independence in 1975. Though no formal
announcement has been made, a March 5 press report indicated
that Guebuza would also retain his post as party secretary
general, at least for the time being.


2. (C) However, contrary to press reports that Chissano
offered to resign, a source in the Central Committee told
post that the Committee meeting was "bitter" and that the
Guebuza camp ultimately forced Chissano's hand. According to
the source, Chissano was convinced to step down only after
several long, heated discussions with FRELIMO heavyweights,
including party founder Marcelino dos Santos and party
ideologue Jorge Rebelo.

Comment
--------------

3. (SBU) As Chissano is Mozambique's first ex-president (his
predecessor, Samora Machel, died in a plane crash),it was
not entirely clear before he left office whether he would
retain the party presidency. Although the president of the
party does not hold veto power over the 15-member FRELIMO
Political Commission (the ruling body of the Central
Committee),this person plays the lead role in its
deliberations. With President Guebuza now president of
FRELIMO, he has a much freer hand in governing Mozambique
than if Chissano had remained FRELIMO president. End Comment.
LALIME