Mozambique: Nyusi threatens to retaliate against any attack on cohesion – DW

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Mozambique: Nyusi threatens to retaliate against any attack on cohesion – DW

3:44 CAT | 01 Sep 2020

Photo: Ministério da Agricultura e Desenvolvimento Rural

Northern Mozambique now has an Integrated Development Agency to promote economic and social growth, launched on Monday. And in Pemba, Filipe Nyusi spoke about the insurgency with the Bishop of Pemba.

One of the causes invoked by Mozambican civil society studies of the insurgency in the northern province of Cabo Delgado is the alleged social inequality and lack of opportunities for local populations, especially the youth.

Without referring directly to these hypotheses, in his speech this Monday (31-08) at the launch of the Integrated Northern Development Agency (ADIN) in Pemba, Cabo Delgado, President Filipe Nyusi noted that, despite hosting 30 percent of the Mozambican population, Mozambique’s three northern-most provinces (Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula) have high poverty rates than the rest of the country.

To address this problem, President Nyusi said, ADIN would promote the harmonious, integrated and balanced development of these provinces.

ADIN goals

The agency will act in humanitarian assistance of the victims of terrorism in guaranteeing basic education, health services and the provision of water and sanitation to those affected by extreme events, guaranteeing food security and creating the conditions for self-employment.

But ADIN also aims, according to Filipe Nyusi, to “create employment and training opportunities for young people, promote investment initiatives for the socio-economic development of communities, through micro, small and medium-sized companies, and promote the construction of infrastructure for the better access to markets and services”.

There is already a plan of activities for ADIN. Making a detailed presentation of the institution, the Minister of Land, Agriculture and Rural Development, Celso Correia, said that “the provincial governments intend to provide assistance to 70,000 families, generate over 100,000 hectares of production and 2,160 kilometres of access routes, and assist 35,000 beneficiaries in the next three months”.
Celso Correia, Minister of Agriculture

“Right now, we have the kits in Cabo Delgado to distribute to the population. We will deliver the first kits to open new resettlement centres for local governments. Two units are also planned, where young people will be able to start processing cashew nuts even this season,” the minister affirmed.

Nyusi threatens retaliation

Political analyst Mussa Juma gives a thumbs-up to the government’s initiative to create opportunities for people in the north of the country, so that they can prosper through investments of various kinds. But he says that, for ADIN to achieve the goals for which it is created, these opportunities must prioritise inclusion.

“I believe that this project, if successful, will deter the attraction of youth to the criminal networks which are destabilising Mozambique,” Juma says.

Speaking about the country’s security, Filipe Nyusi warned: “Let it be clear that any threat, attack or attempt to destabilise any part of the country, using any subversive method, constitutes an attack on the cohesion and unity of the Mozambican people and, as such, we will react as a truly one and indivisible people.”

Meeting between the President and the Bishop of Pemba

The President of the Republic also held a private meeting with the Bishop of Pemba, Dom Luiz Lisboa, on Monday. The two discussed the situation in Cabo Delgado, the humanitarian crisis, and the Catholic Church’s support for victims of the insurgent attacks.

“The country is living at a time when the country needs to speak, to dialogue. It is necessary to understand what the other sees from their angle, and what the other knows in their own way,” a statement from President Nyusi circulated at the end of the meeting said.

“Being of the religious part, this bishop of ours here has a lot of information, which is logical, because it [the church] is well established here in the province, and has many believers. We took the time to share information, even some ideas,” he added.

The Bishop of Pemba evaluated the meeting as follows: “Our conversation was very rich and fruitful. So, we are immensely grateful for this visit.”

Source: Deutsche Welle