Frelimo’s still waters run deep
Frelimo’s still waters run deep
The ‘partidão’ showed a united front last weekend, but big questions remain unanswered
Apart from the salvos by unguided political missile Fernando Faustino, head of the veterans association co-opted onto the Frelimo Political Commission, all seemed calm and smooth at the party’s Central Committee meeting held in Matola over the weekend.
Faustino echoed warnings of “infiltrators” in the party, but nobody can take him too seriously when within his association are some of the biggest profiteers of Mozambique’s natural riches, taken abroad via fishing, mining and timber licences acquired without proper procedures.
Everything went according to the agenda, except for the issue of district elections and the police abuses to block marches praising rapper Azagaia a week before.
For Frelimo activists it is now clear that district elections will not take place in October 2024. A constitutional amendment should be approved after 12 June, once the five year period limiting amendments to the constitution expires, and after the notice period to set the electoral calendar is cut from 18 months to 15.
On Azagaia, although the main tone was in support of police’s accusations of why they had to block the march, voices of dissent were also heard, arguing that the response was disproportionate and that no evidence was presented that the youngsters wanting to march in every provincial capital had any intention of violence. The clearest evidence was the peaceful march held in Quelimane under the guidance of mayor Manuel de Araújo, escorted by police protecting the marchers.
Former presidents Guebuza and Chissano attended the CC meeting, but not a single word was heard from Guebuza, Nyusi’s immediate predecessor. At a well-publicised ceremony on his 80th birthday last year, he boasted in front of its supporters he would not be intimidated — a reaction to the outcome of the hidden debts trial where his son and some of his entourage received mild sentences for corruption in the deals with Privinvest and Credit Suisse.
Contrary to predictions on social media and elsewhere, nothing happened at the meeting to oppose president Nyusi and his supporters, evidence the President managed to consolidate power at the Congress in September last year.
Nevertheless, there are fights to be had — which are not being forgotten about, but perhaps tactically postponed. For the time being, scenarios for next year’s presidential election are being discussed outside of formal Frelimo structures, being dealt with in a close circle of trusted people around the party’s current leadership.
It will take time for the white smoke to come out.
Agenda:
Today: Second of five days of President Nyusi official visit to United States
Nyusi will meet the UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres; The administrator of the United Nations Development Programme UNDP and representative of the US to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Tomorrow: Former PM Pascoal Mucumbi burial at Lhanguene cemetery in Maputo city and start os two days of national mourning
Today’s headlines:
Mozambique to return stolen cars to South Africa
Former PM Pascoal Mucumbi dies at 81
UNHCR warns of "extremely precarious situation" in Palma
Carlos Martins elected president of the Mozambican Bar Association
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