Rejection of Samora Machel Júnior’s candidacy creates nervousness – Mozambique

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Rejection of Samora Machel Júnior’s candidacy creates nervousness – Mozambique

2:26 CAT | 24 Jul 2018

Samito is already talking about the possibility of an independent candidacy. File photo: Getty

On Friday afternoon, Frelimo members were disturbed by the news that Samora Machel Junior, considered a sure candidate only a few days ago, is now out of the race to head the party in Maputo.

Last Friday, the Frelimo City Committee submitted the names of the potential heads of list to the party’s Political Committee, and the name of Samora Machel Junior was not included. The list comprises Eneas Comiche (Frelimo MP and former Mayor of Maputo ), Razaque Manhique (vice-president of Maputo Municipal Assembly) and Fernando Sumbana Júnior (former Minister of Tourism).

This information particularly perturbed the Machel family, who claim to have support in the bases and from the “former liberation fighters”. Via his electoral team, Machel Júnior has been threatening to stand as an independent, with the support of a group of citizens.

Last weekend, Frelimo first secretary in Maputo Francisco Mabjaia sent a message to Frelimo district secretaries in Maputo instructing them not to cooperate with any action aimed at making Machel Júnior candidacy viable, confirming the souring of the environment within the party.

“Good morning, Cds First District Secretaries and City Brigade Chiefs,” the message ran. “Wishes for a great day. Samora Machel Junior’s application forms have been circulating in neighbourhoods since yesterday, to collect signatures in support of the candidacy. I do not need to remind you that this act reveals a great indiscipline. So I urge you to be attentive and discourage this exercise. We cannot allow our city to be used for such acts that only weaken us. I have received information from Albasini and CMC but I believe it is happening in other neighbourhoods. UNIT, WORK AND SURVEILLANCE. F Mabjaia.” Such is the content of the message which Francisco Mabjaia sent to his coreligionists [here published with appropriate spelling corrections].

Another potential list-head who was left out and who has also been considering moving forward without the support of the Frelimo party is Gilberto Mendes. Canalmoz knows that Gilberto Mendes has been holding meetings with various groups to study this possibility. One way or another, the threats of Samora Machel Junior or Gilberto Mendes, if they materialise, would be unprecedented in the Frelimo party, where strong party discipline is supposed to belie all theories about the existence of “wings”.

Source: Canalmoz