/ 15 February 2000

MOZ PRESIDENT FILLS UP CABINET

MOZAMBICAN President Joaquim Chissano appointed two new cabinet ministers and 15 deputy ministers on Tuesday. The appointments follow Chissano’s election victory in December, when his Frelimo party narrowly beat the opposition Renamo with 133 to 117 parliamentary seats. Chissano himself only narrowly managed to retain the presidency after winning 52.3% of the presidential vote against the 47.7% won by Renamo’s Afonso Dhlakama. Renamo on Monday disputed the results and demanded a recount of the votes within 10 days or, it said, it would have to set up a parallel government in its central and northern province strongholds. The country’s Supreme Court has rejected Renamo’s legal challenge against the election results, while Chissano has pointed out that independent international observers declared the elections substantially free and fair.