MOZAMBIQUE'S DAVIZ SIMANGO: READY FOR THE LONG HAUL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MAPUTO 001301

CORRECTED COPY (FORMATTING)

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE'S DAVIZ SIMANGO: READY FOR THE LONG HAUL

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Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Todd C.Chapman, Reasons 1.4(b+d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. Defeated Democratic Movement of Mozambique
(MDM) presidential candidate Daviz Simango told the Charge on
November 16 This election the most fraudulent in
Mozambique,s history., He described tactics used by the
ruling FRELIMO party to manipulate electoral results. Radiating
vigor and confidence, he reviewed the lessons learned during the
recent campaign and discussed MDM,s plans for the future. As
RENAMO continues to self-destruct, MDM is currently the best option
to present a coherent opposition voice in Mozambican politics.
Political party-strengthening programs will be essential for
MDM and any other serious opposition players who might emerge
to engage successfully in the competition for political power
in Mozambique. END SUMMARY.

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THE MOST FRAUDULENT ELECTION IN MOZAMBIQUE,S HISTORY,
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2. (C) The Charge hosted defeated Democratic Movement of
Mozambique (MDM) presidential candidate Daviz Simango for a
luncheon at his residence on November 16. Also joining were
Lutero Simango, Simango,s older brother and soon-to-be MDM
parliamentary representative from the province of Sofala;
Ismael Mussa, MDM strategist and soon-to-be its parliamentary
representative from Maputo; USAID Mission Director and
PolOff. The MDM brain-trust reminisced about the many obstacles they
had surmounted during the elections, with Simango calling this
election the most fraudulent in Mozambique,s history., They
described tactics used by the ruling FRELIMO party on election day, suc
as allowing supporters to enter polling places with multiple blank
ballots stuffed in their shirts and inserting additional ink marks on
ballots cast for MDM thus rendering them invalid. Simango
said that FRELIMO,s methodologies for manipulating elections
continued to become more sophisticated. He detailed how placing
election workers outside the door checking voter ID cards allowed many
people to enter without the proper ID, because ID verification was
done outside of the view of domestic and international observers.
Mussa noted how MDM was able to obtain the video---now widely
distributed around Maputo and shown on local television---of election
workers intentionally marking MDM ballots with thumbprints to
invalidate the ballots. The MDM representatives said they did not plan
to raise any protests with the CNE, already viewed as a totally corrupt
organization, but intend to submit a formal complaint to the Attorney
General's office, as election tampering is a punishable offense.



3. (C) Simango shared stories of how FRELIMO sought to
inhibit his campaign during the official 45-day campaign, including
denying him fuel and housing at several campaign stops. In one city,
FRELIMO had all of the gas stations closed for the day that Simango,s
campaign was in town so MDM was unable to acquire fuel for its vehicles
At another stop in Zambezia province, the local police chief said that
the rooms reserved for MDM at a local hotel had been closed down. With
the help of a local Catholic priest, Simango and his entourage found
lodging at a convent.

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RESTED AND READY TO TOUR THE COUNTRY SOON
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4. (C) Despite the travails of a long campaign throughout a
country twice the size of California with poor roads and transport,
Simango and his colleagues stated they would soon make a countrywide
tour of Mozambique to consolidate MDM,s gains and to thank the voters.
Although MDM was disqualified from running its national assembly
candidates in nine of thirteen legislative districts in the October 28
elections, Mussa pointed to its strong showing in urban areas in both
the presidential and parliamentary contests, particularly in Maputo and
Beira, the country's largest two cities. Since the majority of voters
are in urban areas, Mussa explained, MDM could succeed in dislodging
FRELIMO in 2014 if it strengthens support in the cities and gains
perhaps 30% of the rural vote.

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GLIMMERINGS OF A STRATEGY
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5. (C) Simango directly requested USG support for projects
in Beira, since he said that the central government withheld money for
infrastructure projects in his city. We know that FRELIMO controls
national finances and will come after us in Beira, our stronghold, in a
big way. But if we can show the country continued improvement in Beira,
we will add to our growing credibility. Mussa inquired about obtaining
World Bank funding for the municipality of Beira, noting that a similar
facility had been made available to the city of Maputo. The Charge
agreed to inquire with the World Bank. Simango also thought that he
might get support through the African Peer Review Mechanism.


6. (C) Simango is clearly focusing his attentions on
building up his party for the long term. Defend the base and expand to
the countryside, Simango said. When asked about the viability of other
opposition parties, Simango and Mussa did not see any other serious
possibilities. Raul Domingos, Party for Development and Democracy (PDD
had not generated much nationwide interest, even though he,
like Simango, emerged from senior RENAMO leadership. Mussa
predicted that RENAMO would lose half of its supporters by the next
election. Simango explained that they hoped to recruit full-time paid
MDM political representatives in all 128 districts to monitor the
development of their political work. He said they needed more
motorcycles to help his MDM supporters reach farther into the rural
areas which are too far to reach by bicycle. He also singled out radio
as a cost-effective means of getting out MDM,s message, noting that MDM
was looking into acquiring broadcast facilities.


7. (C) Simango claimed to have next to no economic support,
saying that they ran most of their campaign on the approximately
US$200,000 they received from the government-provided campaign funds.
Reports that he received large amounts of money from Portugal were not
correct. He is making the rounds of Western Embassies in Maputo
canvassing for cash. Simango would like to visit the United States nex
year to meet with think tanks and foundations, essentially to introduce

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his new political party and to look for financial backing.

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COMMENT: LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
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8. (C) MDM,s leader and his chief lieutenants appeared
battle-tested and enthusiastic about its achievements and its future.
Simango felt that the party had gained invaluable experience and raised
its profile among voters significantly. He recognized FRELIMO,s
dominant position and MDM,s lack of financial and human resources.
Rather than feeling like a loser based on its performance in 2009, MDM
seemed energized and committed to making the organizational changes and
investments needed to position itself as the people,s best choice, firs
in 2013 in the municipal elections and then in 2014 for the national
elections. As RENAMO continues to self-destruct, MDM is currently the
best option to present a coherent opposition voice in Mozambican
politics. Political party strengthening programs will be essential for
MDM and any other serious opposition players who might emerge to engage
successfully in the competition for political power in Mozambique.
CHAPMAN