US embassy cable - 05MAPUTO158

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000158 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
AF/FO AND AF/S - TREGER 
MCC FOR BRIGGS AND GAULL 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, MZ, Guebuza, Elections 04 
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: GUEBUZA INAUGURATED AS PRESIDENT 
 
REF: A. MAPUTO 150 
B. MAPUTO 146 AND PREVIOUS 
Sensitive but unclassified -- Not for Internet 
Distribution. 
 
1. (U) On February 2 FRELIMO secretary general Armando 
Guebuza was inaugurated as President of the Republic of 
Mozambique. Several southern African heads of state, 
numerous foreign dignitaries and a large local crowd were 
on hand to witness the accession to power of Mozambique second democratically elected president since the end of 
the civil war in 1992. Guebuza succeeds Joaquim Chissano, 
who leaves after a period of eighteen years in office. 
Among the notable guests were President Mbeki of South 
Africa, President Sampaio of Portugal, President Mugabe of 
Zimbabwe, and Brazilian Vice President Jose Alencar. The 
Peace Corps' Africa Regional Director Henry McKoy and the 
Ambassador represented the United States. Noticeably 
absent was RENAMO opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama (in 
fact, no RENAMO politicians were present), who in December 
2004 lost his third bid for the presidency, winning only 32 
percent of the vote against Guebuza's 64 percent (ref B). 
 
2. (U) President Guebuza used his inaugural address to 
reiterate the FRELIMO electoral manifesto, pledging to 
focus his government's efforts on eradicating poverty (ref 
A). To do so, he promised to fight "bureaucracy," 
corruption and crime. Guebuza stated that he would seek 
out men and women of integrity to serve in his 
administration. He urged the opposition to take an active, 
responsible role in advancing the consolidation of peace 
and democracy in the country. 
 
3. (SBU) Comment: Despite the heat and glare of a sunny 
summer morning, both ex-President Chissano's short speech 
and President Guebuza's somewhat longer address were well 
delivered and attentively received. This transition has a 
more disciplined tone to it than prevailed in the Chissano 
administration. Guebuza close hold on the names of new 
ministers has left many in town nervous over their future. 
According to the press, President Guebuza will announce his 
new cabinet within the next 48 hours. 
LALIME