Maputo — Mozambican President Armando Guebuza on Tuesday swore into office the country's new Prime Minister, Alberto Vaquina, and the other ministers, deputy ministers and provincial governors he appointed in Monday's government reshuffle.

At the ceremony, Guebuza made it clear that the government changes were the result of reflections earlier in the year that culminated in the Tenth Congress of the ruling Frelimo Party, held in the northern city of Pemba in late September.

At that Congress, Vaquina's predecessor, Aires Ali, lost his seat on the 17 member Political Commission, which is effectively the most powerful body in Frelimo.

Vaquina, who was previously governor of the western province of Tete, was among the newcomers to the Political Commission.

The swearing-in ceremony, Guebuza said, was the first step in implementing measures arising from the Congress.

"Our repeated commitment", he declared, "is to improve increasingly the quality of life of our people, by raising the level of performance of our machinery of governance".

He thanked the new ministers for accepting his invitation to join the government.

"Complex missions are for men and women of proven experience and capacity, such as those who have just been sworn in", said Guebuza. "Your long record of public services and of dedication to our people is of comfort to us".

His expectation was that they would implement "the National Agenda for the Struggle against Poverty" and stressed that "your commitment to public service and dedication to others should continue to be your driving force and the main reward for your commitment to your work".

He reminded the new ministers that the government "is unshakably committed to the struggle against red tape, against the spirit of apathy and drift, against corruption and crime, and against the other obstacles to our development".

The government was also firmly committed to "the promotion of self-esteem, national unity and the culture of peace", and to other actions of good governance.

"These are the targets, values and principles that should structure and inform the action of each and every one of the members of our governance machinery", he added.

Guebuza also thanked those who were leaving the government for the work they had done.

Vaquina was inheriting a legacy from Aires Ali "which you must know how to value and consolidate."

Vaquina told reporters that he would indeed continue the work begun by his predecessor.

"The government's Five Year Programme is under implementation", he said. "I shall continue the work, and ask for collaboration, both from my predecessor and from my colleagues. I shall urge all Mozambicans to commit themselves to the struggle against poverty".

Aires Ali said he was leaving the Prime Minister's office "with my head held high", and with a sense of "mission accomplished". As for his future, he said he was available for any task that Frelimo might wish him to undertake.

"This is my mission, I have carried out various tasks and I always did my best", said Ali. "I remain available, and I shall always receive the tasks that the Party thinks are best for the Mozambican people and for the country".
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