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Mozambique: Guebuza warns that his comrades will not be able to silence him – Watch
4:31 CAT | 23 Jan 2023
Photo: O País
- At a symposium to mark his 80th birthday, Mozambique’s former president Armando Gubuza said he hoped that justice would reveal why his son was imprisoned and warned that “if Portuguese colonialism has not managed to silence us or overcome our convictions, our comrades will not be able to do it”.
Former Mozambican President Armando Guebuza said that his “comrades” would not silence him and that he is still waiting for justice to explain why his son, Ndambi, is in prison.
These statements were made at a symposium called “Armando Emílio Guebuza, a Story of Self-esteem”, held in Maputo on Friday afternoon (20-01) to mark his 80th birthday in the presence of heavyweights from the ruling party, Frelimo.
In his speech, Guebuza described his participation in the struggle for Mozambique’s independence, highlighted the gains of his presidency and described what he called the “turmoil” his family experienced.
The former president pointed the finger at the institutions of Mozambican justice, from which he says he hoped to hear why his son was imprisoned.
“I have four children. I have Norah, who is not here. I have Ndambi, whom Justice … does not explain why he is there [imprisoned], in acceptable terms. But they did it on purpose, so that he would not be here with us. I have Mussumbuluko… And we do not have Valentina, who was snatched from us in this mess that has now led Ndambi to prison,” the former president said.
He then turned his batteries on party colleagues.
“But we get up. We endure. We are strong. If Portuguese colonialism was not able to silence us, overcome our convictions, it is not our comrades who will succeed in doing so,” Guebuza said, adding that, despite what he called “turbulence”, he was a lucky man to have arrive at his advanced age.
In a spirit of gratitude, he said that in 80 years he had experiences that strengthened him and expressed appreciation for “the affection of our people, of my friends and comrades, my family and, above all, that of my partner (49 years of marriage that together we went through everything and came out stronger) are, in this whole process, a refreshing tonic”.
Dreams come true and mistakes
The former head of state reviewed his public action from participation in civic movements, in the clandestine struggle and in what he called “direct action”.
“We were able, on this journey, to witness the realization of dreams of many previous generations of Mozambicans of seeing their homeland free from colonial domination, of freely building the daring nation of their dreams, of which they are the sole and legitimate owners, without fear of making our own mistakes, but also with the audacity and courage to correct them, because making mistakes without correcting them makes no sense,” Guebuza said, going on to stress that that the liberation of the country “was and continues to be the most exalting mission that the nation delegated to my generation”.
He added that “we have learned that the hope and well-being of Mozambique and Mozambicans, from Rovuma to Maputo and from Zumbo to the Indian Ocean, must be the cause and the main reason for our fight”.
In the spirit that history should be used to correct and avoid evils in the present and in the future, he pointed to self-esteem and to national unity as the beacons of “our” political action and defended the need to enhance the achievements of those who gave the blood for the liberation of the homeland through actions.
Honour to the liberation struggle fighters
“It is terrible to remember the departed comrades. Samora Machel is no longer with us. Some here didn’t know him. [It is important] to remember Eduardo Mondlane, Paulo Kankhomba, Josina Machel, they all left. Then some young, energetic journalist comes along and asks: is this Samora’s dream? Mondlane’s?” the former president asked, requesting that these predecessors continue to be honoured.
“Let’s not play with their story. At the very least, let us honour their story,” he said.
President of the Republic from 2005 to 2015, and Mozambique’s third head of state reviewed some of his government’s actions. “Through the Seven Million Policy, we encouraged the participation of all, from the district, in the economy and in the financial system, but our greatest edification was the rescue of our self-esteem”.
“We rejoice when we hear our people refuse a boss. We don’t want more ‘donos’. We are our own masters,” Armando Guebuza concluded.
The symposium was organized by the Armando Emílio Guebuza Foundation and covered topics such as “Man and his family”, “Marks and milestones of clandestinity”, “In the armed struggle with Armando Guebuza”, “Self-esteem as a guiding thread”, “Negotiating peace with Armando Guebuza”, “Diplomatic practice with Armando Guebuza”, “The fight against poverty from Armando Guebuza’s perspective” and “Armando Guebuza, between loves and love and estrangements”.
Also on Friday, President Filipe Nyusi congratulated his predecessor on his birthday in a statement.
“His life trajectory is intertwined with the history of Mozambique, which today stands proud, thanks to the dedication of generations and compatriots from the past and present, above all the unforgettable contribution of the liberators of the land of which Comrade President is a part,” Nyusi said “on behalf of the Mozambican people, of myself and my family”.
READ: Filipe Nyusi congratulates Armando Guebuza on his 80th birthday – Watch
Source: VOA Portugues / Canal Oficial do Antigo Presidente da República de Moçambique Armando Emílio Guebuza
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