Mozambicans in Germany demand a meeting with President Nyusi

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Mozambicans in Germany demand a meeting with President Nyusi

12:49 CAT | 19 Apr 2016

Detsche Welle

The Mozambican community in Germany is awaiting President Nyusi’s visit with great expectation, but several Mozambicans have told DW Africa that they would like to meet the president in order to express their concerns.

Antonio Chimussuane has lived in Germany since before it was reunited, and gets straight to the point. “We were told by the embassy that the president would be here on the 19th, and we are keen to hear what he will say. We heard what he said before he took office and now we want to hear what he will say to the Mozambican community in Germany.”

Antonio Chimussuane is one of about 800 Mozambicans who live in the German capital. Like most Mozambicans, Chimussuane came to Germany as part of cooperation programs signed between the governments of the former East Germany and Mozambique at the time of Samora Machel.

More than 20,000 Mozambican men and women went to work in the German Democratic Republic, but when Germany was reunified, most returned home. Only those who had acquired German citizenship, mainly through marriage with German citizens, were able to stay.

António Chimussuane says he will listen carefully to Nyusi’s words

Antonio Chimussuane, “from the bottom of his heart”, continues to feel Mozambican and remains very attached to his country of origin: “We are concerned about the political and economic situation and the situation of Mozambicans in the diaspora,” he told DW, continuing: “We hope that the president gives us the opportunity to express our concerns and we want to discuss the very serious problems we have in Germany. We have been here 30, to 40 years, and when we were here we sent 60 percent of our salary to Mozambique and the money has never been returned. We want this money because this money is ours.”

José Albano, another Mozambican resident in Berlin, does not hide the fact that he an MDM supporter and says that he is very disappointed with FRELIMO, the party of the current president which has ruled the country since independence.

Several of the Mozambicans in Berlin do not hide their preference for MDM

“Samora sent us to Germany in order for us to return one day with our expertise to Mozambique, but that is not what happened. Many of us worked in breweries, in the textile industry or in mines, industries that are needed in Mozambique, but our knowledge has never been valued and here we are, stranded.” Albano says that Mozambique is seeking manpower in Asia, while “the hand of patriotic work is left here to rot”.

Filipe Nyusi arrives in Germany accompanied by three ministers and several business persons

Enesto Milice is a successful businessman who installs kitchens throughout Germany and has dozens of employees in Berlin and Poland. Milice would like to talk to the president and touch on the issues that are most important: “Human rights, peace in Mozambique and the effort to put Mozambique on the road to economic development.”

Milice biggest concern however is the political and military crisis, and this is what he would most like to talk to the president about.

“We want peace, and I do not see why there cannot be peace in Mozambique. We know that Renamo is a problem, but what matters is freedom, peace and prosperity” Milice is keen to point out. “If they want to kill each other, that’s their business, but please, don’t kill civilians.” Milice makes it clear that what he is saying he would “like to say to the president’s face”.

For Ndiabuane Benjamin, the blame for the current tension lies squarely on the shoulders of Mozambique’s ruling party, Frelimo.

Benjamin would tell the president: “Frelimo has a tendency to be a one-party party; it does not want democracy. That’s my view. If I were given the opportunity I would say this, but I don’t think we’ll get the opportunity.”

Adelina Albano is one of the few women in Berlin’s Mozambican community the DW reporter met. She stayed largely silent throughout the conversation, but finally made her feelings known.

“I was born in Mozambique and sometimes I feel afraid to go to here – that I’ll get there be attacked. We want peace, to enjoy a holiday with family and return to work. They say that when Frelimo promises, it delivers. But delivers what? Delivers nothing. Children are dying and government officials sit in air-conditioned offices.”

That is what Adelina would like to say to her “fellow citizen” Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, but she thinks she’s unlikely to be invited.