Mozambique declares seven days of national mourning in memory of Marcelino dos Santos

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Mozambique declares seven days of national mourning in memory of Marcelino dos Santos

10:33 CAT | 13 Feb 2020

Photo: Noticias

The Council of Ministers has decreed, starting today, a seven-day period of national mourning following the death in Maputo on Tuesday of Major General Marcelino dos Santos.

Marcelino dos Santos was proclaimed a National Hero in June 2015, in recognition of the scale and relevance of his achievements in the course of national liberation from colonialism and against racism and other forms of oppression and domination, and for all the services he provided to the country and to the Mozambican state.
The Council of Ministers yesterday also decided to hold a state funeral on the 19th of February in Independence Square, and a wake on the 18th of February in Paços do Municipio, in the country’s capital.

During the seven days of national mourning, the flag will be flown at half-mast across the country and its diplomatic representations abroad.

Spokesperson for the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers, Filimão Suaze, explained that the government’s decisions were based on the breadth of Marcelino dos Santos’ achievements, life and work, with emphasis on his sacrifice, courage, audacity and selflessness in resisting foreign occupation.

The death of Marcelino dos Santos, also known as Kalungano in literary circles, was announced publicly by President Nyusi on Tuesday afternoon, at the end of the popular rally he led in the city of Pemba, Cabo Delgado province.

On the occasion, the head of state stressed that it had not been necessary to wait for Marcelino dos Santos’s death to declare him a National Hero, a status he was given in June 2015.

Marcelino dos Santos died on Tuesday, at the age of 90, at his home in Maputo, victim of a cardiac arrest, his personal doctor announced.

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Source: Noticias