Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi said today that the country has experienced development in “several directions” as a result of national independence achieved 49 years ago, pointing to terrorism as a current problem.
“We can say that the union of the Mozambicans, signed in 1962, [ano da fundação da Frente de Libertação de Moçambique] and the sacrifices made by our heroes during ten years of struggle for our Motherland were worth it,” Nyusi said.
The head of state spoke at Heroes’ Square in Maputo during a speech dedicated to the central ceremony of celebrating the 49th anniversary of national independence achieved on June 25, 1975.
Since gaining national independence, the country has registered “development in several areas”: in the fields of health, agriculture, education, arts and culture, energy, civil service and justice, he continued.
Mozambique’s president noted that the country managed to end a 16-year civil war in 1992 and that the political battle is now being fought at the polls.
Filipe Nyusi noted that the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process of former guerrillas of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the main opposition party, is moving forward.
“Out of 5221 [guerrilheiros] covered by the GDR, as of June 20, 4,273 people have already been granted pensions, and 3,547 are already receiving payments,” he added.
“We urge former rebels who have not yet come forward” to have their pensions regularized to do so “as soon as possible to close the GDR,” he said, estimating that 948 people were missing.
The head of state called the terrorist attacks in the province of Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique a challenge to peace and security, the protection of national unity as a tool for defeating armed violence in the region.
“The biggest challenge is to control terrorism, which is plaguing parts of Cabo Delgado province, but we are convinced that if we unite, we will win,” the Mozambican president said.
Filipe Nyusi today led the central ceremony to celebrate the 49th anniversary of national independence for the last time as head of state, completing the last of two terms allowed by the constitution.
The head of state awarded 851 citizens of the country the “Medal of the Veteran of the Struggle for the Liberation of Mozambique.”
On June 25, 1975, Mozambique’s first president Samora Machel and Frelimo leader declared national independence, ending the head of Portuguese colonization in the territory.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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