By Ricardo Dias & Noémia Mendes
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – Mozambique's ruling Frelimo Party held an extraordinary session of its Central Committee on Friday, 14 February, in the southern city of Matola to confirm Daniel Chapo as the party's president and to elect a new secretary-general, a position entrusted to Chakil Aboobacar.
Both Chapo and Aboobacar were unopposed. Chapo secured 239 votes from the Central Committee members present, equivalent to 99.9% of the vote, with only two Committee members casting blank ballots.
Chakil Aboobacar, aged 46, was elected secretary-general with 92.47% of the vote, with 18 blank ballots. Aboobacar succeeds Chapo, who had held the post since May 2024. He was previously the Central Committee Secretary fo Administration and Finance.
Both Chapo and Aboobacar emphasised that Frelimo had won the last general elections "convincingly," despite them being the most contested in the country's history, resulting in over 300 deaths in the post-election unrest.
However, both leaders agreed on the need to introduce changes in the way the party has governed the country since 1975.
"Change is an ongoing process of seeking solutions to respond to increasingly complex challenges in a constantly evolving society," said Daniel Chapo in his closing speech at the session.
Aboobacar, in turn, stressed the importance of modernising the party's working methods.
"Frelimo emerged victorious from the elections, but not everything went smoothly. It is essential to introduce reforms and adopt new working methods. We believe that, despite our limited experience, we can contribute. We must be a party that works and is close to the people," the new secretary-general told the press.
Frelimo has scheduled the election of the remaining members of the Central Committee Secretariat for March, covering areas such as Communication and Image, Administration and Finance, International Relations, and Cadre Training.
Nyusi Questions the Accumulation of Roles by the President of the Republic
The former President of the Republic and of Frelimo, Filipe Nyusi, has suggested that the party reflect on the concentration of the roles of Head of State and of party leader in the same person.
"In recent times, we have observed debates regarding the roles of the party president and the President of the Republic. We do not intend to shut down this debate, as we lack the authority to do so. This matter requires further analysis and a decision from Frelimo's highest body, the congress," said Nyusi, in his final speech to the Central Committee,
Nyusi's comments come after the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP) submitted an injunction to the Maputo City Law Court in an attempt to block the election of Daniel Chapo to the role of Frelimo president.
MOZTIMES has learned that the presiding judge dismissed the request, deciding that there was insufficient legal basis to grant the injunction.
CIP argued that holding both the Presidency of the Republic and the leadership of a political party not only violates the Constitution but also undermines fairness, impartiality, and transparency in the President's decision-making, prioritising party interests over national ones.
With the Head of State also leading the ruling party, the anti-corruption organisation warns of the increasing risk of state capture by party interests and the misuse of public resources for political purposes. (RD/NM)
