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RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHTO #0082/01 0261408
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R 261408Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1216
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0603
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000082 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM MZ
SUBJECT: GUEBUZA INAUGURATION FLAUNTS EXCESS, YET REVEALS 
PARTY WORRIES WITH URBAN YOUTH 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Matthew Roth for reasons 1.4 (b+d) 
 
¶1.  (C)  SUMMARY: Television cameras captured scenes of 
several thousand revelers at Frelimo headquarters celebrating 
the election results in December, and independent media 
remarked on the excesses and atmosphere of indulgence.  The 
party continued during the Jan 12 parliamentary inauguration, 
presided over by Guebuza who replaced long-standing Speaker 
Eduardo Mulembwe with senior Frelimo politico and Guebuza 
loyalist Veronica Macamo.  At the Presidential Inauguration 
on January 14, Frelimo's festivities ramped up, with 
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, among several African 
heads of state in attendance, commenting that a "Frelimo 
victory is my victory too."  Guebuza's inauguration speech 
called for inclusivity and consolidation of domestic 
politics.  He touched on new priorities for his 
administration, including youth, urban poverty, generational 
change, and a need for Mozambique to strengthen bilateral and 
multilateral international cooperation.  In a moment of 
inaugural levity, while Guebuza was seated on a large ornate 
throne with a traditional 'praise singer' at his side, a 
Mozambican choir belted out the Hallelujah Chorus from 
Handel's Messiah, "...and He shall reign forever and ever," 
leaving many diplomats wondering exactly who the singers were 
referring to.  Urban youth, increasingly disenchanted with 
both an uncharismatic Guebuza and an aging Frelimo party, 
received special attention in the President's inaugural 
speech as he committed to addressing the problems of the 
urban poor. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
-------------------------------- 
FRELIMO PARTY CELEBRATION EXCESS 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) In late December, television cameras captured images 
of 3,000 revelers feting the formal announcement of elections 
results at the richly bedecked Frelimo party headquarters on 
the outskirts of Maputo.  Independent media remarked on the 
excesses, including the 40 head of cattle slaughtered, vast 
quantities of beer consumed, and an atmosphere of indulgence 
in an incredibly poor country.  Guebuza gave a televised 
victory speech similar in style to the U.S. tradition for the 
first time.  Guebuza noted in his remarks that election 
results showed he was President of all Mozambicans because 
the number of votes he received exceeded the total number of 
Frelimo party members, claiming this provided true legitimacy 
to his administration. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
GUEBUZA FLAUNTS AT PARLIAMENTARY OPENING 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) At the January 12 inauguration of a new parliamentary 
session, President-elect Guebuza arrived at the National 
Assembly with an extensive motorcade of late-model luxury 
sedans.  Previous Assembly President and Frelimo party 
stalwart Eduardo Mulembwe (who had held the position for 15 
years, had been considered a possible candidate for president 
in 2014 and has his own independent power base) was not 
re-nominated for the position.  In his place, former Vice 
President of the AR (and Guebuza loyalist) Veronica Macamo 
was chosen at a recent Frelimo Political Commission meeting, 
and hence ran uncontested for the position.  Macamo, a law 
professor, is also a member of the elite Frelimo Central 
Committee and Political Commission. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
MUGABE AT INAUGURATION: FRELIMO VICTORY IS MINE TOO 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶4.  (C) On January 14, Guebuza held his formal presidential 
inauguration with Heads of State from the Democratic Republic 
of Congo, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia, and South 
Africa.  Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe told the press 
before the ceremony that a "Frelimo victory is my victory 
too."  Former presidents of Zambia, Botswana, and South 
Africa were also present.  India, China, and Brazil sent 
ministerial-level delegations, while most other countries 
sent lower-level delegations or were represented by 
in-country diplomats. 
 
------------------------------------- 
INAUGURATION SPEECH: A FOCUS ON YOUTH 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Speaking for nearly an hour, Guebuza thanked the 
Mozambican people for participating in the electoral process 
 
MAPUTO 00000082  002 OF 002 
 
 
in an orderly and peaceful manner, and, subtly addressing USG 
expressions of concern about opposition party exclusion, 
stressed that the process was "inclusive."  Guebuza also 
called on opposition parties to work with the ruling part in 
what he termed a new "consolidation of democracy."  Turning 
to foreign affairs, Guebuza said his administration would 
strengthen international cooperation, both bilateral and 
multilateral, mentioning SADC, the AU, and the EU.  Guebuza 
then spoke about the need to combat urban poverty as well as 
the issue of generational change in Mozambique, calling on 
the younger generations to build on the experiences of those 
who fought for independence and in Mozambique's protracted 
civil war. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
AND THE CHORUS SANG, "HE SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER" 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶6.  (C) Interestingly, the inauguration attracted only about 
5,000 Mozambican onlookers despite it being a national 
holiday and with free transportation available to the 
ceremony.  Meanwhile, television coverage showed Mozambicans 
enjoying Maputo's beaches in large numbers, suggesting a 
generalized disinterest in the proceedings.  The four-hour 
event included a series of cultural interludes that included 
more than one moment of levity.  During one session, for 
example, while Guebuza was seated on a large ornate throne 
with a traditional 'praise singer' at his side, a Mozambican 
choir belted out the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah, 
"...and He shall reign forever and ever," leaving many 
diplomats wondering exactly who the singers were referring to. 
 
-------------------------------- 
COMMENT: LESS THAN INSPIRATIONAL 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) The Presidential Inauguration was a humdrum event 
which inspired few.  Many diplomats commented on the lack of 
public enthusiasm for the event, noting the low turnout and 
how government-provided free transportation to the event went 
unutilized.  By focusing on youth in his inauguration speech, 
Guebuza may be attempting to address what many analysts 
perceive as one of the significant threats to Frelimo and its 
continued political dominance in Mozambique.  Urban youth are 
increasingly disenchanted with both an uncharismatic Guebuza 
and an aging Frelimo party.  Guebuza had a relatively poor 
showing in urban election returns, particularly in Maputo 
city, where despite an overwhelming number of Frelimo 
supporters holding down the majority of government jobs in 
the capital, Guebuza nearly lost in his home district.  Even 
so, Guebuza seems oblivious to the criticisms--many by those 
same youth-- generated by his ostentatious shows of personal 
wealth and recent lavish spending for political party and 
government events. 
CHAPMAN