VZCZCXRO4012
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHTO #0874/01 2160801
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040801Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0576
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0450
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000874 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL MZ
SUBJECT: CHARGE MARKS 25 YERAS OF USG AID; MEETS MANICA 
MUSLIMS 
 
REF: MAPUTO 806 
 
¶1.    (SBU) Summary: The Charge's recent trip to Manica 
Province, located along the border with Zimbabwe, was the 
second in a series of visits planned to all of Mozambique's 
provinces to highlight USG funding successes.  In a two-day 
visit, the Charge reviewed health and orphanage facilities 
supported by the USG, met with Zimbabwean refugees (reftel), 
consulted with key political leaders, conducted radio and 
newspaper interviews, delivered a speech at the provincial 
capital's leading university, and fielded probing questions 
from the region's Muslim leaders.  While the visit was 
positive, significant additional outreach to the region's 
Muslim community is needed.  End Summary. 
 
----------------------- 
25 YEARS OF USG SUPPORT 
----------------------- 
 
¶2.    (SBU) The Charge raised awareness about USG assistance 
exceeding $2.2 billion provided to Mozambique over the past 
25 years and the anticipated $2 billion of U.S. assistance 
Mozambique may see in the next five years through programs 
including MCC, PEPFAR, and the President's Malaria Initiative 
(PMI).  Surrounded by some 400 orphans, many of whose parents 
had been victims of HIV/AIDS, the Charge visited two 
neighborhood projects supported by USG funds in the 
provincial capital, Chimoio.  He also inspected the district 
hospital.  According to doctors, including the province's 
sole pediatrician, whose salaries are paid by Health Alliance 
International, a USAID partner, the facility sees more than 
200 patients daily.  The Charge attended the opening of a 
film featuring local actors dramatizing the health and 
interpersonal challenges posed by HIV-positive relationships. 
 Funding for the film was provided through the Embassy's 
Pol/Econ section.  Following the free screening, actors and 
community leaders helped conduct a debate among audience 
members designed to reinforce the film's lessons. 
 
---------------------------- 
POLITICAL AND MEDIA OUTREACH 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3.    (SBU) In addition to meeting with Governor Mauricio 
Vieira, Chimoio Mayor Raul Conde, Catholic Bishop of Chimoio 
Dom Francisco Silota, and representatives of Manica City 
Mayor Moguene Candieiro, the Charge completed interviews with 
Radio Mozambique, Radio Comunitaria Macequece, and the 
newspaper Diario de Mozambique.  He also delivered a speech 
at Chimoio's Universidade Catolica to a group of some 200 
journalists, students, faculty and citizens, challenging the 
GRM to act transparently and openly in all matters, 
particularly as an antidote to local corruption.  The speech 
was followed by a question-and-answer period which extended 
the session beyond its scheduled two hours. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
MUSLIMS LAUD OBAMA SPEECH; LEERY OF POLICY 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶4.  (SBU) On June 23, in a frank meeting in Chimoio, capital 
of Manica, the Charge fielded a range of 
challenging questions from twelve local Muslim leaders 
invited to discuss President Obama's Cairo speech. 
Participants praised President Obama's words, but wondered 
aloud when they would be supported by action. 
Misinformation about U.S. actions and policies towards the 
Muslim world still abounds. The Charge was asked: to respond 
to an alleged internet report that the USG was redacting and 
desecrating the Holy Koran; why the Senate had rejected 
President Obama's effort to close the facility at Guantanamo 
Bay; how the USG managed to control media worldwide and why 
it had decided to use such control to foment anti-Arab 
feelings; why the USG was torturing and killing prisoners at 
Guantanamo Bay; why the USG equated terrorism with Islam; how 
a professed Christian nation could accept the killing of 
Arabs and why the USG invaded only Arab countries, such as 
Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan; why the USG supported only 
Israeli, and not Palestinian, interests in the Middle East 
and rejected a two-state solution. 
 
----------------------------------- 
OUTREACH EFFECTIVE, BUT MORE NEEDED 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Comment: In the Charge's second visit to the 
provinces in as many months, Post reinforced its key messages 
 
MAPUTO 00000874  002 OF 002 
 
 
of 25 years of USG assistance and the importance of 
transparency.  Telling the story of U.S. assistance in 
Mozambique provides valuable information to Mozambicans 
outside of the capital.  Local Muslim leaders, questions 
reflected a fundamental misunderstanding of USG policy and 
U.S. citizen sentiment.  The breadth of misinformation in the 
provinces is startling.  The visit to Manica was an 
unqualified success: each side left with a better 
understanding of the other's concerns.  But significant 
public diplomacy challenges remain, and Post will continue to 
engage audiences in Mozambique's ten provinces. 
AMANI