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Viewing cable 10MAPUTO81, GUEBUZA MAKES FEW CHANGES TO CABINET
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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
10MAPUTO81 | 2010-01-25 12:44 | 2011-08-30 01:44 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Maputo |
VZCZCXRO6858
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHTO #0081 0251244
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 251244Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1215
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0602
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MAPUTO 000081
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MZ
SUBJECT: GUEBUZA MAKES FEW CHANGES TO CABINET
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Todd Chapman for reasons 1.4 (b+d)
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On January 16 President Guebuza announced
the members of his Cabinet. There were few changes. With
the exception of shifting Aires Aly, Minister of Education
and Culture during Guebuza's first term, to Prime Minister,
all other key ministers retained their posts. With Guebuza's
FRELIMO party receiving high percentages of votes in the
tainted presidential, legislative and provincial elections
held October 28, there was little incentive to make
revisions. The President took the opportunity to reward
loyalty, despite public concerns of international donors
about democracy and governance. END SUMMARY.
--------------------------------------------- --
New Prime Minister: Personally Loyal to Guebuza
--------------------------------------------- --
¶2. (SBU) Aires Aly, from Mozambique's largest and least
populous province, Niassa, in the country's northwestern
corner, is a Muslim and member of a relatively small tribe,
the Nyanja. He was named by President Guebuza to replace
Luisa Diogo, who was considered to be a strong supporter of
former president Chissano. Diogo will no longer be part of
the executive, although she will serve as an MP in the
National Assembly (AR). Though Aly did not especially
distinguish himself in his previous position as Minister of
Education and Culture, he does sit on FRELIMO's key Political
Commission. While many observers note that his promotion
brings geographical, religious, and tribal balance to the
Cabinet, it is more importantly seen as an acknowledgment of
Aly's cleaving to the party line and his personal loyalty to
President Guebuza. Observers also agree that while Aly could
be a potential candidate for the Presidency, he would never
attempt to compete with Guebuza should the constitution be
revised to allow Guebuza to run for a third term in 2014.
¶3. (SBU) Prior to his appointment as Minister of Education
and Culture in 2005, Aly was governor of Niassa (1995 to
2000) and of the southern province of Inhambane (2000 to
2004). He also served as the Provincial Director of
Education in Nampula, head of the office of the Minister of
Education, and National Director of School Social Welfare
Programs. Aly has two children studying at the university
level in Oklahoma and has expressed support of educational
exchange programs between the United States and Mozambique.
-----------------------
But Few Other New Faces
-----------------------
¶4. (C) All other key ministers retained their positions.
Remaining in place are the Ministers of Foreign Affairs,
Defense, Planning and Development, Interior, Health, Finance,
Commerce, Agriculture, Justice, Science and Technology,
Labor, Mineral Resources, Energy, Transport, Public Service,
and the Ministry of the Presidency. The only changes were at
minor ministries such as Fisheries, Veterans, Affairs,
Women's Affairs and Social Welfare, and Public Works and
Housing. Aly's replacement at the Education Ministry,
Zeferino Martins, served in the Chissano administration as
Vice Minister of Education and has particular expertise in
vocational and technical training. He is generally seen as
an experienced, capable professional. A presidential advisor
told the Charge that the former Minister of Public Works,
Felicio Zacarias, was dismissed because of demonstrated
corruption in his ministry.
----------------------------------
Comment: Consolidation, Not Change
----------------------------------
¶5. (C) Despite widespread concerns by international donors
about democracy and governance issues, and increasing
evidence of and public criticism of high-level corruption,
President Guebuza failed to make substantial changes in his
cabinet. The USG already has positive working relations with
the new PM and with the existing FM and Minister of the
Presidency which will assist with continuity in our political
discussions. It is unfortunate, however, that many of the
poorly performing economic Ministers, such as Industry and
Commerce, Planning and Development, Labor, and Agriculture,
were not replaced, which could hamper progress in pressing
forward with our economic and developmental policy agenda.
CHAPMAN