Graça Machel

Insiders say recent pointed remarks about self-interested 'infiltrators' in Frelimo by Graça Machel (the widow of founding President Samora Machel and President Nelson Mandela) refer to Nyusi's supporters including his close ally Celso Correia who led the municipal election campaign and organised Frelimo's victory in the last general election (AC Vol 60 No 21 Frelimo takes no chances)...

Unlike the February 2008 National Accord between former president Mwai Kibaki and Odinga midwifed by African Union emissaries notably Kofi Annan Benjamin Mkapa and Graça Machel and chaperoned by Western diplomats the March 2018 'Handshake' was negotiated between close Kenyatta and Odinga family members gazetted by the Office of the President as an official function and foisted on the public as a fait accompli (AC Vol 59 No 6 Raila beats rivals to a new deal)...

Frelimo conservatives see the hand of Samito's stepmother Graça Machel in his political ascent but sources close to Samito deny it...

He still has some influential opponents in Frelimo though including Graça Machel widow of Founding President Samora Machel and later of South African President Nelson Mandela...

The factions most hostile to Guebuza are reaching out to Nyusi including former President Joaquim Chissano and elder stateswoman Graça Machel...

Mozambique's Graça Machel a member of the Elders group and the widow of the late South African President Nelson Mandela differed stridently...

The MRM Chairman is Samora Machel Júnior son of Founding President Samora Machel and Graça Machel...

Graça Machel widow of Founding President Samora Machel and then of South African President Nelson Mandela disappointed many by refusing to put herself forward but threw her weight behind the Chissano faction making an impassioned speech that helped expand the candidate list...

She also has the backing of ex-President Joaquim Chissano and Graça Machel widow of South Africa's Nelson Mandela and of Founding President Samora Machel...

Probably the loudest cheer came when Mandela's two successive wives Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Graça Machel embraced warmly...