President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique was only able to meet the new Portuguese President Cavaco Silva very briefly in Lisbon last week during the inauguration ceremony.
The Portuguese protocol services did not permit a longer meeting between the two Heads of State. Hence, Guebuza left Lisbon quite furious. Nevertheless, he did manage to get one vague promise from Cavaco.
The Portuguese Head of State told him that he hoped Mozambique would be one of his first international visits and that he would like this trip to coincide with the signature of the final agreement of the Cahora Bassa question, which is still, according to Guebuza, “a thorn which is darkening relations between the two countries”.
Cavaco Silva has an affective relation with Mozambique, where he underwent his military service during the 1960s. He has even named his daughter Patricia after the name of the street Princesa Patricia where he lived in Lourenço Marques. Guebuza’s advisors hence suggested that he play the “mozambicanité” card with Cavaco Silva, for example by inviting him and his family on a nostalgic visit to Maputo.
Indian Ocean Newsletter - 18.03.2006
