MOZAMBIQUE-POLITICS: NEW GOVERNMENT SWORN IN

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

JOSEPHINE MASIMBA

MAPUTO, Dec 23 1994 (IPS) - PRESIDENT JOACHIM CHISSANO FRIDAY SWORE IN MOZAMBIQUE’S NEW GOVERNMENT, CONSISTING OF 20 MINISTERS AND TEN DEPUTIES, AT THE ‘PONTA VERMELHA,’ HIS OFFICIAL RESIDENCE.

CHISSANO, LEADER OF THE FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF MOZAMBIQUE (FRELIMO) WHICH WON MULTIPARTY ELECTIONS ON OCT. 27- 29, SAID HE HAD SPENT “MANY NIGHTS AND DAYS … TRYING TO GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO ASSUME THIS TASK.”

“THERE ARE MANY CAPABLE AND TALENTED PEOPLE IN MOZAMBIQUE TODAY,” HE SAID, “IT WAS NECESSARY TO CHOOSE PEOPLE WHO CORRESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THE DAY.”

MANY HERE BELIEVE CHISSANO HAS FULFILLED HIS PROMISE TO APPOINT MEMBERS OF THE NEW CABINET ACCORDING TO COMPETENCE RATHER THAN POLITICAL INCLINATIONS. “THEY ALL APPEAR CAPABLE TECHNOCRATS,”, A WESTERN DIPLOMAT, WHO REFUSED TO BE NAMED, TOLD IPS AFTER THE CEREMONY.

BUT, DESPITE PLEGDES TO PROMOTE WOMEN IN POLITICS, THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT HAS ONLY ONE FEMALE MINISTER, ALCINDA ABREU HEADING SOCIAL WELFARE. WHILE ADELAIDE AMURANE, ACUCENA XAVIER DUARTE AND LUISA DIOGO WERE APPOINTED DEPUTY MINISTERS OF LABOUR, JUSTICE AND PLANNING AND FINANCE RESPECTIVELY.

NOR WERE OPPOSITION LEADER MAXIMO DIAS AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (CNE), BRZAO MAZULA, INCLUDED ALTHOUGH THEY HAD BEEN WIDELY TIPPED FOR CABINET POSTS.

SOME PUNDITS VIEW THE SNUB AS A PERSONAL COUP FOR CHISSANO, WHO APPEARS TO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY RESISTED PRESSURE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, ALWAYS OFFICIALLY DENIED, TO INCORPORATE OPPOSITION POLITICIANS, PARTICULARLY MEMBERS OF THE MOZAMBICAN NATIONAL RESISTANCE (RENAMO) INTO A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO REFUSED TO GRANT RENAMO, THE BIGGEST OPPOSITION PARTY HERE, THE GOVERNORSHIP OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES OF TETE, SOFALA, NAMPULA AND ZAMBEZIA WHERE IT WON, FOR FEAR THAT THE APPOINTMENT WOULD DIVIDE THE NATION.

RENAMO, WHICH FOUGHT TO OVERTHROW FRELIMO FOR ABOUT 17 YEARS, WON THE SUPPORT OF ABOUT 38 PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY’S MORE THAN SIX MILLION VOTERS.