Macia — An enormous crowd turned out to greet Mozambican President Armando Guebuza on Friday as he carried his campaign for re-election into Gaza province, the part of the country that has provided the most solid support for the ruling Frelimo Party ever since independence in 1975.

The crowds at the town of Macia, near the boundary between Gaza and Maputo province, left little doubt of the continuing popularity in Gaza of Frelimo and its presidential candidate. The light drizzle that fell did not dampen the spirits of the crowd, who remained to hear Guebuza address another election rally.

In the last presidential election, in 2004, Guebuza won 304,562 votes in Gaza - to just 5,611 cast for his nearest rival, Afonso Dhlakama, leader of the main opposition party, Renamo. In the parliamentary elections of both 2004 and 1999, Frelimo swept the board in Gaza, winning all the parliamentary seats.

Guebuza told his supporters that he has always been well received in Macia, "but today was something very special".

"This shows that we are secure in these elections", he said, "because you lead us to believe that in Macia, and in all of Gaza, you will know how to vote well, by voting for Frelimo and its candidate".

Members of the crowd thanked Guebuza for his government's achievements over the past five years. But he insisted that, in reality, those achievements, "result from the efforts of all Mozambicans".

"The way you put it, it sounds as if the successes we have been achieved are my personal work. But it's not me on my own. It's all of us", stressed Guebuza.

Guebuza then traveled on to a further campaign rally in the provincial capital, Xai-Xai. Over the weekend, he will be in Guija, Chibuto and Mandlakaze districts before moving on to Inhambane province on Monday.