Election Day in Mozambique

Dear Friends, Hope you are all doing fine!

Here in Mozambique there is a lot of excitement as the Presidential elections are  this Wednesday!! There are a lot of Parades, dancing, loudspeakers, and campaigning. It is peaceful.

Of the many parties and candidates, we are quite sure that the ruling party, Frelimo, will win. The current President of the country- and of Frelimo- is Armando Emilio Guebuza, the wealthiest man in Mozambique(or one of them.)

Don’t know why we all seem to want to elect the wealthiest people in our countries who are so removed from the everyday concerns of regular people.

I hope Ms. Goodalls’ classes are following this African election. Perhaps you will get results before we do here. Let me know.
You know, there is an award given to an African leader each year who shows democratic leadership, perhaps steps down in a timely manner, etc. It is not being awarded this year.

ALL THE CANDIDATES PROMISE TO END POVERTY!!
I’ll introduce you to a  25 year old woman we visited last week. A medical student and I walked through a huge neighborhood to reach her. We went through garbage, standing water, tiny cement block houses, no plumbing, pit latrines, a press of humanity. This woman is HIV positive. Her husband died last year of AIDS. Her 4 month old baby is in an orphanage, as she can’t nurse him. Her 2 and a half year old is with her in a one room, hot cement block house. He’s had malaria and looks malnourished to me.
She depends on her brother who has a small Kiosk in the neighborhood selling small food items.

The Med student, Edy Nacarapa,, got her into a HIV support group where she gets beans, cooking oil, powdered milk, and emotional support.  He got the toddler to the hospital when he was sick. But she can’t work and is lethargic, as is the child. Her sleeping net to prevent malaria is all ripped up. She needs a lot of help. Multiply her by millions and where to start??

Each medical student has 3 families assigned to them in the “ghetto”. They are supposed to visit them once a month. Edy is doing a terrific job, but some of the students make up reports and don’t visit their families.

If anyone hears first as to who wins the elections and majority in Parliament, let me know. Meanwhile, take care!

All the best, Emily/Ms. Wesson