Cablegate: Mozambique: New Governors in Nampula and Inhambane

R 051513Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
RUEHJO/AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME
TO RUEHC/SESTATE WASHDC 6516
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP 0129

UNCLAS MAPUTO 001563

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR HTREGER
USAID FOR AA/AFR AND AFR/SA
MCC FOR SGAULL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KCOR PGOV PHUM MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: NEW GOVERNORS IN NAMPULA AND INHAMBANE
PROVINCES

Ref: Maputo 1497

1. On November 26 President Armando Guebuza appointed
Felismino Ernesto Tocole and Francisco Itai Meque as
governors of Nampula and Inhambane provinces, respectively.
.Tocole replaces Filipe Paunde, who was elected secretary
general of the ruling FRELIMO party at the Ninth Party
Congress in mid-November (reftel). Meque, who at the
Congress was elected a member of the FRELIMO central
committee, takes over as governor from Lazaro Vicente, who
has been seriously ill since the beginning of the year.

2. Tocole, 46 years old, is from Niassa Province and a
chemist by profession. Some of his previous positions
include advisor to the governor of Niassa Province, director
of the Forward Niassa Program (an economic development
program), and assistant Director of Science at the Eduardo
Mondlane University. Media commentators have largely been
surprised by his appointment, since he is relatively unknown
and has almost no prior political experience.

3. Meque, approximately 50 years old, is from Sofala
Province and has a background in education. He has served as
the director of teacher training colleges in Manica and
Sofala Provinces.

COMMENT

4. These appointments follow Guebuza's pattern when he chose
his cabinet of selecting people with provincial experience
(and, presumably political loyalty) rather than just members
of the Maputo elite.

DUDLEY

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