VZCZCXRO6864
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHTO #0398/01 0820957
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 230957Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0146
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHPA/AMEMBASSY PRAIA 0026
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0157
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 0082
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 0031

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000398 
 
AF/S FOR MSHIELDS 
AF/PD FOR CANYASO, DTITUS AND LALLISON - PLEASE PASS TO SDOMOWITZ 
AND CBERGIN IN IIP/AF 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO KMDR PREL PGOV KDEM MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE OUTREACH TOUR ENGAGES YOUTH ON THE U.S. 
 
REF: STATE 21427 
 
MAPUTO 00000398  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY:  Responding to excitement over the new U.S. 
Administration amongst our target population here, youth and 
students, and armed with helpful tools from our IIP Bureau as well 
as a special "Soft Power Gold" powerpoint designed by another FSO, 
the PAO and our Outreach Specialist took southern Mozambican schools 
by a storm all of last week, visiting 10 institutions and conducting 
3 radio interviews on the new Administration and what Mozambicans 
think about our relations.  We engaged directly with over 2,000 
Mozambicans, mostly 15 - 25 years in age. Mozambique's own 
fascinating and complex history, in some ways deeply entwined with 
that of the U.S. made for a fertile ground for discussion.  The 
response was energetic: Mozambicans' suggestions for improved mutual 
understanding follow below.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. From March 16 - 20, we visited 10 different schools (high 
schools, teacher training academies and universities) in southern 
Mozambique, responding to both the local population's enthusiasm 
over our new Administration and also the March 6 cable "Soliciting 
Overseas Ideas to Increase Mutual Understanding" (ref).  The story 
of the President resonates strongly here: Not only is he considered 
a "native son" because of his East African origins, but the story of 
the President's own parents is eerily similar to that of the 
founding father of this nation, revered as a national hero: Eduardo 
Mondlane.  Mondlane was a brilliant young scholar when he was 
hand-selected to pursue university studies in the United States 
(Oberlin, then Northwestern) with the intent for him to return and 
lead an independent Mozambique.  He met and married a young American 
girl from the Midwest (now widow and Mozambican resident Janet 
Mondlane) with whom he had three children. 
 
¶3. Mondlane is considered the father of the independence movement 
and therefore Mozambique, although he did not live to see 
independence.   President Guebuza has dedicated the entire year of 
2009 as a commemoration of Mondlane, exactly 40 years after his 
death, believed to have been a letter bomb assassination by 
Portuguese colonial authorities when Mondlane was leading the 
independence movement from nearby Tanzania.  Eduardo Mondlane's name 
graces the premier university (with faculties throughout the country 
and a student body of 20,000); the main avenue in Maputo; and 
numerous monuments and museums.  School children all learn about 
Mondlane; we focused our tour in three provinces but with special 
outreach in Gaza province, from where Mondlane hails. 
 
¶4. (Note: Janet Mondlane is currently publishing a series of volumes 
of Eduardo Mondlane's letters.  Volume II, to be published soon, 
will highlight Eduardo's life in the United States, when his 
thoughts were greatly influenced by American ideals of race-free 
policies, open markets and transparency in government.  Many believe 
that had Eduardo survived, Mozambique would be a very different 
country than it is today. 
 
¶5. During our presentations, we used the IIP-provided  Biography 
channel film of President Obama as well as an enlightening and 
compelling power point presentation designed by Sao Paolo Political 
Officer David Brooks.  The powerpoint, which takes audiences on a 
tour of U.S. history and race relations from the 18th century to the 
present argues that the election of the President was inevitable, 
and that the President's life converges with the own history of the 
United States.  We distributed the "Barack Obama: 44th President"; 
the IIP-produced "Barack Obama: In His Own Words" (translated into 
Portuguese) and a number of other IIP-offered publications. 
Finally, our Outreach Specialist, also our Educational Advisor, 
promoted "Study USA" as well as our Fulbright, Humphrey and YES 
programs. 
 
¶6. During our "Americana-Obamania" outreach tour, we emphasized the 
Secretary's intention to listen to the opinions of others as she 
aids the President in formulating and carrying out our foreign 
policies.  We solicited in writing Mozambican responses to the 
questions, "What is the most important way to enhance mutual 
understanding between Mozambique and the U.S.?"  The audiences 
jumped at the opportunity to write down their opinions. 
 
¶7. Many of the answers were unsurprising: More exchange and 
scholarship programs, more opportunities for English language study 
and a visit by President Obama.  Reflecting the heavy state 
presence, an astonishing number of students asked for the two 
nations' presidents to meet, debate or to hold a bilateral 
conference (rather than focusing on efforts by and for the people). 
More than any other, however, was the response asking for help in 
Mozambique's "luta contra pobreza absoluta" (fight against extreme 
poverty): agriculture, health (HIV/AIDS and malaria above all), and 
education.  Many responders thanked us as a big step in itself to 
 
MAPUTO 00000398  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
improve relations. 
 
¶8. The top 20 original and thoughtful responses, translated from 
Portuguese, follow below: 
 
a. "Build universities and invest in education" 
b. "Create civil society organizations in both nations that will 
advance bilateral relations" 
c. "Give scholarships at the undergraduate level" 
d. "Arrange cultural exchange groups (dance, theatre, cooking) 
between our two countries" 
e. "Organize international fairs to unite people" 
f. "Increase the Peace Corps presence" 
g. "Send more diplomats to Mozambique" 
h. "Write a book linking the similar histories of the Mondlanes and 
the Obamas" 
i. "Treat our two countries as equals" 
j. "Unite as one country Mozambique and the U.S." 
k.  "Mozambicans need to work instead of asking for help; then, 
there will be better understanding" 
l. "Help us strengthen democracy here" 
m. "Help combat corruption, our biggest problem" 
n. "Stop the war in Iraq" 
o. "Come and visit our country's tourist destinations" 
p. "Create exchanges around sports and science" 
q. "Establish partnerships between American and Mozambican 
universities" 
r. "Link business people in both countries" 
s. "Support programs for women and children" 
t. "Ease visa and border restrictions for Muslims" 
 
 
¶9. CONCLUSION:  Our "Americana-Obamania Outreach Tour" (part I?) was 
designed to build on the excitement of President Obama's election 
and to take advantage at this moment of the possibility of a 
profound and unique opening of understanding towards the U.S. and 
Americans, not only because 2009 is the "Year of Eduardo Mondlane" 
and the upcoming book will reveal how the revered Mondlane was so 
greatly shaped by the United States.  At a post-elections lunch with 
Mondlane's elderly widow Janet, she had told us, "Now is the moment 
to bring our peoples together - reach out to them." Heeding her 
call, and that of the Department, we were eager to engage in this 
listening tour which earned us new contacts, a new presence in the 
towns we visited and hopefully new open doors to improve relations. 
 
 
CHAPMAN