President Robert Mugabe told the press at the formal inauguration of Mozambican President Armando Guebuza that a Frelimo victory was his too.
Mugabe was one of the heads of state invited to the inauguration together with other leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia, and South Africa.
According to the United States embassy in Maputo, the four-hour inauguration included a series of cultural interludes.
During one session, 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.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 10MAPUTO82, GUEBUZA INAUGURATION FLAUNTS EXCESS, YET REVEALS
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Reference ID |
Created |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO8086
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHTO #0082/01 0261408
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
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
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.
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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
(4922 VIEWS)
