Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MAPUTO668
2006-06-08 06:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Maputo
Cable title:  

MOZAMBIQUE: FRELIMO A NO-SHOW AT AFRICAN

Tags:  KCOR PGOV PREL MZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1676
RR RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHTO #0668 1590613
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080613Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5496
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS MAPUTO 000668 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

AF/S FOR HTREGER
MCC FOR SGUALL
NSC FOR CCOURVILLE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCOR PGOV PREL MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: FRELIMO A NO-SHOW AT AFRICAN
PARLIAMENTARIANS NETWORK AGAINST CORRUPTION SEMINAR

REF: A. MAPUTO 650


B. MAPUTO 573

Sensitive but unclassified - please handle accordingly. Not
for internet distribution.

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000668

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

AF/S FOR HTREGER
MCC FOR SGUALL
NSC FOR CCOURVILLE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCOR PGOV PREL MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: FRELIMO A NO-SHOW AT AFRICAN
PARLIAMENTARIANS NETWORK AGAINST CORRUPTION SEMINAR

REF: A. MAPUTO 650


B. MAPUTO 573

Sensitive but unclassified - please handle accordingly. Not
for internet distribution.


1. (U) The African Parliamentarians Network Against
Corruption (APNAC) held its third regional anti-corruption
training seminar in Maputo on May 22-23. This regional
forum, which was supported by both the Canadian and Danish
development agencies, aimed to strengthen the capacity of
African parliamentarians to fight corruption and promote good
governance. The event also served as the launch of
Mozambique's APNAC chapter, which is headed by National
Assembly deputy Eduardo Namburete of the opposition RENAMO-UE
coalition.


2. (U) The forum was attended by 30 parliamentarians from
Lusophone Africa, including members of Angola's MPLA and
UNITA political parties and more than a dozen RENAMO
deputies. APNAC President, Augustiane Rizindana of Senegal,
also attended the two-day session. Markedly absent, however,
were deputies from the ruling FRELIMO party. Minister in the
Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs Isabel Kavandeka, who
reportedly had been slated to open the day's events, did not
show up either, though the opening was delayed several hours
in hopes that she would make an appearance. She never did.


3. (SBU) During a May 31 meeting with the acting DCM,
Namburete said that FRELIMO purposefully boycotted the
seminar because it was perceived as a RENAMO-driven
initiative. FRELIMO, however, publicly blamed their absence
on poor communication by the event's organizers. Yet staff
of the Canadian High Commission told poloff on June 7 that,
in fact, FRELIMO's leadership chose to avoid the corruption
seminar. According to the Canadian source, FRELIMO deputies
did not take part at the instruction of the President of the
National Assembly, Eduardo Mulembwe, who apparently had taken
offense at Namburete over a procedural matter in Parliament
and retaliated by not allowing FRELIMO deputies to attend.
FRELIMO majority whip Manuel Tome admitted to the Canadians
in a private meeting that he regretted the party's absence at
the seminar. No explanation for Minister Kavandeka's absence
was ever provided.


4. (SBU) Comment: Though it appears to be petty politics at
play behind FRELIMO's no-show at this pan-African corruption
event, FRELIMO's absence has some political observers
wondering in public about the strength of the party's, and by
extension President Guebuza's, commitment to fight
corruption. Post has just released a very critical December
2005 assessment on Mozambican corruption done by the US
consulting firm MSI, financed by USAID, on our embassy
website, which so far has received favorable comment in the
local press (in March we provided President Guebuza a copy).
We will look for additional opportunities to press the GRM to
take steps to act on their anti-corruption rhetoric.
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