Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MAPUTO1315
2009-11-22 13:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Maputo
Cable title:
MOZAMBIQUE OPPOSITION THREATS NOT CREDIBLE
how-toVZCZCXRO5215 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHTO #1315 3261307 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 221307Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1037 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0577 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MAPUTO 001315
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE OPPOSITION THREATS NOT CREDIBLE
Classified By: Acting POL/ECON Chief Eric Heyden, Reasons 1.4(b+d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MAPUTO 001315
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE OPPOSITION THREATS NOT CREDIBLE
Classified By: Acting POL/ECON Chief Eric Heyden, Reasons 1.4(b+d)
1. (C) RENAMO opposition leader and defeated presidential
candidate Afonso Dhlakama has denounced as fraudulent the
recent overwhelming victory by FRELIMO,s Armando Guebuza,
often in an inflammatory fashion. But few take his comments
seriously. Dhlakama was first quoted as saying that RENAMO
would set the country on fire in response to the fraudulent
elections. He later explained that what he intended to say
was the people, not RENAMO, would react in fiery anger.
Local press poked fun at Dhlakama, pointing out that he was
seen shopping for furniture to decorate his new home in the
northern city of Nampula, scarcely the behavior of a
committed revolutionary. Mozambique,s recent soccer victory
over Tunisia, qualifying it for the African championship in
Angola, has occasioned more excitement in the press and among
Mozambicans than the RENAMO leader,s comments.
2. (C) Contacted by telephone, RENAMO spokesperson Maria
Ivone Soares confirmed that the party had submitted a
500-page formal complaint to the National Electoral
Commission (CNE) seeking to overturn the results, which, as
required by law, the CNE had forwarded with its opinion to
the Constitutional Council, effectively Mozambique,s Supreme
Court. The normally ebullient Soares sounded tired, giving
the impression that she was merely appeasing her superiors by
drafting and submitting the complaint, and confiding she had
little hope that the challenge would succeed.
CHAPMAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE OPPOSITION THREATS NOT CREDIBLE
Classified By: Acting POL/ECON Chief Eric Heyden, Reasons 1.4(b+d)
1. (C) RENAMO opposition leader and defeated presidential
candidate Afonso Dhlakama has denounced as fraudulent the
recent overwhelming victory by FRELIMO,s Armando Guebuza,
often in an inflammatory fashion. But few take his comments
seriously. Dhlakama was first quoted as saying that RENAMO
would set the country on fire in response to the fraudulent
elections. He later explained that what he intended to say
was the people, not RENAMO, would react in fiery anger.
Local press poked fun at Dhlakama, pointing out that he was
seen shopping for furniture to decorate his new home in the
northern city of Nampula, scarcely the behavior of a
committed revolutionary. Mozambique,s recent soccer victory
over Tunisia, qualifying it for the African championship in
Angola, has occasioned more excitement in the press and among
Mozambicans than the RENAMO leader,s comments.
2. (C) Contacted by telephone, RENAMO spokesperson Maria
Ivone Soares confirmed that the party had submitted a
500-page formal complaint to the National Electoral
Commission (CNE) seeking to overturn the results, which, as
required by law, the CNE had forwarded with its opinion to
the Constitutional Council, effectively Mozambique,s Supreme
Court. The normally ebullient Soares sounded tired, giving
the impression that she was merely appeasing her superiors by
drafting and submitting the complaint, and confiding she had
little hope that the challenge would succeed.
CHAPMAN