Mozambique: Chapo urges Mozambicans to rethink the country

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Mozambique: Chapo urges Mozambicans to rethink the country

7:25 CAT | 26 Jun 2025

Photo: Notícias

Mozambican President Daniel Chapo on Wednesday declared that the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence on 25 June 1975 is an opportunity for Mozambicans to rethink the country – reflecting on the past, assessing the present and projecting the future.

Speaking at Machava stadium, in the southern municipality of Matola, where the country’s first president, Samora Machel, declared Mozambican independence half a century ago, Chapo said the celebrations were an attempt to renew the hopes of young people, so that they will be able to continue the march towards economic independence.

He recalled that, in the difficult years of colonial oppression, Mozambicans had joined forces to free the country and its people. “We bow down before our heroes, particularly the veterans of the national liberation struggle”, Chapo declared.

He praised the contributions of his three predecessors, Joaquim Chissano, Armando Guebuza and Filipe Nyusi, who were standing beside him on the rostrum. Since independence in 1975. Mozambique has had five presidents, four of whom are still alive.

Chapo also praised Tanzania for its unfailing support during the independence war. Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, was the guest of honour during the celebrations, and Chapo declared that Tanzanian support had been decisive for victory against Portuguese colonial rule.

Tanzania, he said, had run many risks in support the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) against Portugal’s NATO army. Because of this history of solidarity, Mozambique had made a point of supporting liberation movements in the neighbouring countries of Zimbabwe and
South Africa in their own battles for freedom.

“We always believed that our own independence wouldn’t make sense while other peoples remained oppressed”, said Chapo.

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He stressed that Mozambique still faces many challenges, including corruption, drug trafficking and other forms of organised crime. He declared that peace must be built every day, with responsibility.

Source: AIM