US embassy cable - 05MAPUTO170

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000170 
 
SIPDIS 
AF/S - HTREGER, DRL/PHD - PHARVEY 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, ELAB, KDEM, KSEP, PGOV, PREL, MZ, Democracy, DHRF 
SUBJECT: SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY: THE U.S. 
RECORD IN MOZAMBIQUE 2004-2005 
 
REF: 04 STATE 267453 
 
1. Summary: Mozambique has made progress in strengthening 
its democratic institutions, but the country remains 
vulnerable to corruption and human rights safeguards are 
weak. In December 2004 Mozambique held its third general 
(presidential and legislative) election, as President 
Joaquim Chissano, who had held office since 1986, did not 
run for re-election. Armando Guebuza of the FRELIMO party 
was elected president with 64% of the vote, and took office 
in February. Mozambique under FRELIMO has moved away from 
its Marxist beginnings to become an increasingly open 
society; there were some signs of progress in 2004, 
including greater freedom of the press in election 
coverage. Government performance remained weak in other 
areas, such as independence of the court system and 
anti-corruption efforts. Human rights abuses were not 
widespread, but there were notable areas of concern, such 
as discrimination against people with HIV-AIDS and 
trafficking of women and children to South Africa. In 
2004, to help Mozambique improve its democratic and human 
rights performance, the Embassy carried out a range of 
programs: strengthening Mozambique's electoral process, 
supporting anti-corruption efforts with key government 
agencies, and providing support to upgrade the police and 
military, among other initiatives. In the upcoming year, 
the Mission will focus primarily on anti-corruption 
strategies, and will upgrade its efforts to help the 
government address outstanding human rights issues. End 
Summary. 
 
2. The December 2004 general election was the focal point 
for U.S.-funded democratization programs throughout the 
year. To strengthen Mozambique's ability to establish 
credible election results, USAID provided support to the 
Carter Center and other NGOs, in coordination with 
Mozambican civil society, to establish a parallel vote 
tabulation system. Also, Mozambican election observers 
received training through U.S.-supported NGOs. All of 
these activities were carried out with ESF funds. The U.S. 
Mission sent 17 election observers to eight provinces and 
provided funding for Carter Center observation efforts. 
Observer missions noted that some election irregularities 
took place, particularly in Tete province, which allowed 
FRELIMO to win a few extra seats in the National Assembly. 
The final results of the presidential election closely 
mirrored the parallel vote count, however, and 
irregularities did not affect the outcome. 
 
3. To strengthen Mozambique's democratic institutions, 
USAID and the Embassy have increased the Mission's emphasis 
on anti-corruption programs, including activities with both 
the government and civil society. USAID worked to upgrade 
the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) in the Attorney General's 
office by providing funds to train prosecutors and to 
establish new offices in Beira and Nampula, the second- and 
third-largest cities in Mozambique (previously the ACU was 
confined to the capital, Maputo). USAID also provided the 
local NGO Etica with a grant to carry out a two-year 
anti-corruption campaign, with a focus on mass media 
activity and the formation of anti-corruption reporting 
centers in major cities. Also, the Embassy used the 
Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) to support a local 
NGO in drafting a Freedom of Information Act for 
Mozambique, since the very limited amount of public 
information available makes it possible to hide government 
corruption. The United States will continue to support 
these institutions and bodies in 2005. 
 
4. Mozambique made progress on press freedom issues, as 
evidenced by very open general election coverage and the 
willingness of journalists to cover politically sensitive 
cases. Many television, radio, and print media news 
outlets still cannot be classified as fully independent 
from government or political party control, however. The 
Embassy's Public Affairs section used its Small Grants 
program to support greater independence through grants to 
radio and print media organizations. Also, a digital video 
conference was set up to train journalists on how to cover 
HIV/AIDS, in a country where the press has been reluctant 
to address the issue. Each of these programs has received 
increased funding for further work in 2005. 
 
5. The Embassy continued its activities to foster a more 
professional police force, which will be less prone to 
commit human rights abuses. The Embassy used INL funds to 
provide assistance for management training and curriculum 
development to Mozambique's Police Sciences Academy 
(ACIPOL). This help was provided primarily by a long-term 
International Criminal Investigative Training Program 
(ICITAP) advisor. Funding also was used to upgrade 
facilities at the academy. The first ACIPOL class 
graduated in 2004. INL funding was also used so that ten 
high-ranking police officers and ten prosecutors from the 
Attorney General's office participated in courses at the 
International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) regional 
center in Botswana. In 2005, the Embassy also will use 
funds from the President's Emergency Program for AIDS 
Relief (PEPFAR) to establish a program to prevent and treat 
HIV/AIDS in the Mozambican police and military, where 
infection rates are particularly high. 
 
6. There was progress in Mozambique in 2004 in protecting 
women's rights. In August the government approved a family 
law that clarifies property and child custody rights for 
women, particularly women in common-law marriages. (In 
previous years the U.S. provided DHRF assistance to local 
NGOs to review family law existing at the time.) The 
Embassy used DHRF program assistance to help community 
organizations and faith-based NGOs working on a range of 
human rights issues of interest to women. Public Affairs 
used its International Visitors program to send a group to 
the United States to participate in a "Women as Political 
Leaders" seminar. Also, PA used the IV program to send a 
children's advocate to participate in a trafficking in 
persons course in the United States. Upon her return, PA 
organized a seminar in Maputo with figures from civil 
society. The Embassy sees trafficking in persons as an 
area for increased activities with international 
organizations, civil society, and the government in 2005. 
 
7. As part of its strategy for combating HIV/AIDS in 
Mozambique, USAID has dedicated significant PEPFAR 
resources to provide medical treatment, nutrition, and 
educational assistance to tens of thousands of HIV/AIDS 
orphans who otherwise would face economic destitution, poor 
health and social stigma. These efforts were carried out 
through community-based and faith-based organizations that 
work to integrate the orphans within their communities and 
extended family networks. This ensures they get the 
social, psychological, and material support they need. 
Public Affairs carried out new programs to combat the 
social stigma and discrimination that HIV/AIDS victims 
often face in Mozambique. These programs included use of 
the Embassy Speakers Program. USAID and PA will increase 
their activities with orphans and toward countering 
HIV/AIDS stigma in 2005. 
 
8. The U.S. has continued working to improve labor 
relations in Mozambique. The Embassy, working in tandem 
with the Department of Labor, in 2004 helped establish a 
formal labor mediation program for Mozambique. The Embassy 
also hosted seminars on Mozambique's labor law with 
participation by all of the stakeholders. These seminars 
form the basis of a book on labor relations in Mozambique, 
with a foreword written by the then-Minister of Labor, that 
will be published in 2005. DOL also provided support for a 
project to address HIV/AIDS in the workplace at key 
vulnerable industries. 
 
9. Addendum. For 2004, funding for democracy and human 
rights projects of over $100,000 included: 
1. ESF (through USAID) - $400,000 in FY04 for election 
activities 
2. DA (USAID) - $450,000 in FY04 for anti-corruption 
activities 
3. INL - $250,000 in FY04 for Police Sciences Academy 
4. INL - $275,000 in FY 04 for anti-corruption activities 
5. DOL - $300,000 in FY03 to improve labor relations. 
(Many activities took place in '04.) 
6. DOL - $900,000 in three-year contract (FY03-05) for 
projects to address HIV/AIDS in the 
workplace. 
DUDLEY