Mozambique: Independence day attracts vendors to stadium, optimism about future

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Mozambique: Independence day attracts vendors to stadium, optimism about future

7:00 CAT | 26 Jun 2025

Mozambicans cheer during the ceremonies celebrating Mozambique’s 50th Independence Day in Maputo, Mozambique, 25 June 2025. Mozambique celebrates its 50th anniversary today, with the central ceremonies taking place at the historic Machava stadium, the place where the country's first President, Samora Machel, proclaimed independence on 25 June 1975, after a war against the Portuguese colonial regime that began on 25 September 1964. [Photo: Luisa Nhantumbo/Lusa]

Outside the Machava Stadium, where the ceremonies marking Mozambique’s 50th anniversary of independence were taking place, vendor Matilde saw her business moving forward, dreaming of a country that “changes something” and “jobs for young people.”

“We arrived yesterday [Tuesday] around 7 a.m. and happened to sleep here to keep our spot and serve customers, but business is going well,” said vendor Matilde Matsinhe, 35.

Outside the historic stadium, where the 50th anniversary of independence ceremonies were taking place, Matilde, along with hundreds of young people, has her food and drink stall, after spending the night there, having left the T-3 neighbourhood in the municipality of Matola.

In the early hours, she sees the party growing and business picking up, but she dreams of a country that “changes something,” calling for more attention to young people and “more jobs.”

“Jobs for young people and more markets, beyond public holidays, more markets for young people in other provinces too (…) Perhaps providers could make microcredit available for young people, for market traders in particular, running a business brings many challenges, but microcredit for women in particular, and young people too,” Matilde asked.

In the same space is Jaime Sebastião, 37, a member of the Mozambican Police (PRM) who, along with colleagues from the force, took the day off to earn some extra money. His stall sells a little bit of everything, from drinks to food, and he says business is good.

He has been there since 4 a.m. on Tuesday and spent the night there to “protect the stall”.

For him, 50 years of independence are an “asset” for the country, and he acknowledges: “We still have significant progress to make. Perhaps I would say that this is the first year of the 50 years. The picture we see here highlights how much we can learn from other countries (…). I expected 50 much better years than these,” he tells Lusa.

He added that he expects “a lot of change” in the future: “we want opportunities for us young people, just look around, we are all young and we are here looking for these opportunities because we find it challenging to locate other opportunities (…) even those of us who have jobs are here because we earn modestly”.

Alice Muchanga, from the Zona Verde neighbourhood in the municipality of Matolaque, also has a business outside the Machava Stadium, selling chicken, soups, snacks and various drinks.

She says that business is good throughout the day, with her stall always busy, and she hopes that “everything will change” in the country: “We want to be well, peace is the main focus for Mozambicans, we all need peace.”

Another person who wants a country of opportunities in the future is Jorge Joaquim, 24, who brought his stall from the Patrice Lumumba neighbourhood in Maputo province to the centre of the festivities.

He tells Lusa that this business is his livelihood and pays for his computer course: “I would like the country to develop further, in terms of jobs for young people. If you look around, many young people are seeking employment, and we need to create jobs for them. Many young people want to invest, but they need support […] I would like there to be opportunities for young people who want to start a business.”

Mozambique is celebrating 50 years of independence, with the main ceremony in Maputo, led by the President of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, at the Machava Stadium, and attended by 32 heads of state, including Portugal’s Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

The main ceremonies took place at the historic Machava Stadium in the Mozambican capital, where the country’s first president, Samora Machel, proclaimed independence in the early hours of 25 June 1975, after a struggle against Portuguese colonial rule that began on 25 September 1964.

Source: Lusa