The gathering of the party, the successor to the Liberation Front of Mozambique, held every five years, will see close to 2,000 delegates elect a new central committee and political bureau.

"The elections will not be easy. We are all comrades of quality and experience," said Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, opening the congress in a speech broadcast live on Radio Mozambique.

Contrary to earlier expectations that the Pemba congress would designate a new party leader, Frelimo's top brass announced this month they would put forward only one candidate for the post: Guebuza.

Local media have lashed out at the party for spending $8 million on the congress being held in the remote Cabo Delgado province.

"When you are eating shrimp and lobster, please remember the millions of children in the province of Cabo Delgado suffering from chronic malnutrition," said the independent paper Mediafax in an editorial on Friday.

Under Frelimo rule, the country has started to book seven per cent economic growth per year, said Guebuza on Sunday.

"The wealth is for all Mozambicans, and all should participate in the country's growth," he said.