Mozambique Elections: Ngoenha calls for ‘an agreement of the brave’, without winners or losers

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Mozambique Elections: Ngoenha calls for ‘an agreement of the brave’, without winners or losers

3:28 CAT | 09 Dec 2024

Photo: O País

Philosopher Severino Ngoenha believes that, whatever results are announced by the Constitutional Council, they will fragment the country, and that any result will serve “as a match”, which may worsen the country’s situation.

In an interview with Jornal O País, Ngoenha says that Mozambique is in imminent danger of fragmentation.

“Polarization is at its highest level. Mozambique has once again become a country where tribal and regional issues are at the centre of everyone’s concerns. Mozambique has once again become a racist country. These are all ingredients that will endanger our existence as a country and as a nation,” the philosopher says.

For Ngoenha, the results that will be announced on December 23 by the Constitutional Council may worsen the country’s situation.

“These final results that will be announced, whether one candidate wins or the other, will be a match that will light the oil (…). In fact, the country will be fragmented,” is his prognosis.

Ngoenha explains that, whoever is proclaimed president, he will not have enough legitimacy to govern the country and “lead Mozambicans towards development”.

The academic says that the country needs to escape its situation of dependence on other countries, and that only way of doing this is with a legitimate government, capable of uniting the people.

“We are a poor country. No, extremely poor – destitute. We cannot feed our population. We do not have schools in good condition. We do not have medicines in the hospitals. We are a welfare country that lives off the goodwill of others. Despite calling ourselves independent, we are a country that depends on others. We have to escape this situation. And to escape this situation we need to have a legitimate government, capable of bringing everyone together, of uniting everyone,” Ngoenha explains.

Severino Ngoenha appeals to all Mozambicans to adopt a responsible attitude and to reach an agreement before the results are announced.

“An agreement of the brave, that is, not one in which there are losers and winners, but one in which there is only one winner, the Mozambican people and the unity of our country. To achieve this, each person must add a little water to their own wine. It is important that each person tempers their ambitions. Each person must be ready to compromise, so that we can find a common platform, on which we can come together as Mozambicans, to get out of the situation we find ourselves in.”

The philosopher also calls for less rigidity, more openness, more willingness and more platforms for dialogue with those who are entitled to it.

Severino Ngoenha condemns some of the attitudes that have characterized the demonstrations, saying that “the bandits” are taking advantage of the situation to commit acts of violence.

“Burning cars, burning infrastructures that we need, burning courts, removing railway lines; destroying infrastructure is taking the country backwards, it is making it so that even whoever comes to govern tomorrow, regardless of who they are, will not be able to offer what the country needs, especially for the poorest.”

Ngoenha says there is no reason to want President Nyusi to stay in power for another two years

“There is no reason to stop the revolution, the changes, the reforms in our country must continue. […] We have spoken a lot, I personally, about the many abuses against a democratic, open and inclusive society that Mozambique has demonstrated. We do not want to favour anything or anyone,” he concludes.

Source: O País