Mozambique: Oldemiro Baloi laid to rest in Maputo – Watch

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Mozambique: Oldemiro Baloi laid to rest in Maputo – Watch

3:00 CAT | 19 Apr 2021

Photo: O País

This Saturday, family, friends, government officials and other individuals said goodbye to the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Oldemiro Júlio Marques Baloi, who died on April 14, in South Africa, of an illness. The former Minister of Foreign Affairs was buried in the Lhanguene cemetery in the country’s capital.

Before the funeral, a wake took place in the main hall of Maputo Municipal Council. Among those present were the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, and former presidents Joaquim Chissano and Armando Guebuza.

Oldemiro Baloi served as minister in governments headed by all three presidents.

Oldemiro Baloi, a teacher, an economist and diplomat, dedicated a large part of his life to the state.

Despite their grief, the Baloi family said that the departure of their loved one should be seen as an opportunity to celebrate life, just as Oldemiro Baloi himself had always said.

“Daddy, we are so fortunate to have shared your life and been loved by you,” said Oldemiro’s son Edgar Baloi. How lucky we are that you supported us and carried us on your back and for everything you taught us. We are so fortunate to have lived decades with your laughs, affection and love of life. You have always been love, for yourself, for our mom, for your parents, for us, for your grandchildren, for our family, for your friends and for everything that was good and right.”

Edgar Baloi said his father has always shown his children how good they could be, to live and develop. “Even in the worst moments,” he recalls his father saying, “heads up! Let’s move forward, because people are coming up behind!”[“Cabeça erguida, bola para frente, que atrás vem gente”].

With that spirit of positivity, Oldemiro Baloi followed his path with his wife, Judite Baloi, for whom her husband’s physical disappearance is unfair.

“Comforted by the legacy you left” – Baloi widow

With her soul broken by pain, widow Judite Baloi said that, as Oldemiro Baloi’s “companion of all hours”, it was “difficult for her to accept” that her husband had left forever.

Baloi’s death, she said, causes her a “deep and searing pain” at “having stopped being a couple”.

However, Judite Balói said, “I am comforted by the legacy you left behind, an extraordinarily affectionate and attentive husband. I’ll never forget the flowers you gave me, for everything and for nothing.”

Baloi had “a solid training and education”

Baloi carved a remarkable career path in the banking sector, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Millenium Bim, Rui Fonseca, said.

“We have lost a good man, who we will miss terribly. He was a friend, companion and colleague at all times. Always attentive and supportive. Friend of your friends. Oldemiro Baloi was a unique man, with a unique intelligence and capacity for analysis,” Fonseca said. Baloi had“ a solid background and education” accompanied by “boldness of decision, boldness in business and decision-making ability at all stages in which he was present”.

A “great minister has gone” – Verónica Macamo

For Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Verónica Macamo, who spoke on behalf of the President of the Republic, “talking about the life path of a personality” like Baloi “is not an easy task”.

Using the words of the President of the Republic, Verónica Macamo characterised Baloi as “a patriot in all dimensions. He was a man whose life path was second to none”.

Continuing, the minister explained that Baloi started his patriotic trajectory in 1974, at a very young age, participating in the creation of the basic social structures and taking a leading role in the “organisation of the masses, in the framework in preparation of national independence”.

“Since then, his life has always been associated with activities to enhance our homeland,” Verónica Macamo said. In recognition of his professional and human qualities, Baloi was called upon to perform “complex and highly responsible tasks”, and became a “great minister”.

In the end of this message, on behalf of the Executive, the President of the Republic comforted the family on the physical disappearance of Baloi.

Baloi will continue to instruct – Joaquim Chissano

“We appreciate the values that Oldemiro Baloi leaves us, which will constitute the continuity of his life among us. As his son said, we are here to celebrate life, so, whatever good he did, he will continue to teach.”

Armando Guebuza says Baloi’s memory should be honoured

“We have lost a civil servant. Now, what we have left is to honour him, to honour his memory, so that what he did, his work, remains with us.”

Baloi was “much more than a hierarchical superior”

Henrique Banze, former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, says that, for himself and his colleagues, Baloi “was much more than a superior”.

Oldemiro Baloi arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation “at a time when the country needed to strengthen its confidence” inside and outside its borders.

It was “a time of many challenges, not only for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but also in the area of cooperation, which was also very important. He worked a lot on it, defending the interests of Mozambicans, but also bringing in other countries” as partners. “I remember, for example, the situation in Guinea. He was one of the most important people to work on this process.”

Baloi “taught us how to work” – Maria Lucas

Former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Maria Lucas, reacted to Baloi’s passing, saying: “He taught us a lot, and we learned a lot from him. He was very strict, very perfectionist and very methodical – didactic, ever, and we had to learn how to work with him. He said that we should have the capacity to innovate, to find ways to get results,” because “He was very result-oriented.”

“The country has lost a multi-faceted citizen” – Manuel Tomé

“The country has lost a citizen of many skills, both political or professional, and in particular in the economic field. It is enough to remember that Dr Oldemiro Baloi passed through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, passed through Cooperation, passed through Foreign Affairs and he was a very fine citizen. I had the privilege of working with him, both in political tasks and in circles of friendship, and he was a very elegant individual, a gentleman. We have lost a great person, and what we have to do, to value what he was as a citizen and as a professional, is to follow his example”.

“I miss having someone who, when it is time to consult him, was there, ready. When it was time to criticise, he was there to say: ‘All right, that we can correct’. When it was time to be very serious about deciding on matters of the country, on cooperation, he was also there.”

This is “a special time to celebrate the life and work of Oldemiro Baloi” – Daniel David

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SOICO group, Daniel David, stressed the role Oldemiro Baloi played in his life and in the creation of the SOICO group.

“He was a person who, at very special moments in my life, was present, and always advised me on the decisions I should make. Even in the creation of our group, the SOICO Group, the person who gave unconditional and paramount support for the group was him,” Daniel David said.

At Millennium bim, where Baloi worked, he helped the SOICO group carry out its plans. “At the time, we had neither the financial nor the collateral capacity to obtain any financing for our project to go forward,” the PCA of Grupo SOICO said. But Baloi had said something he would never forget. “Daniel, you have no money, you are poor like me. The only collateral you have is your word. I trust you, and that is why I will guarantee that you can start your project.”

David said that had received many words of encouragement from Baloi. For example: “’Be sure, if you are going to start a project like this, it is because you know that you will be successful in it.’ And that is how our journey towards the creation of the SOICO Group began. He assumed the position of member of the Advisory Board of our Foundation and remained was a member of the Foundation’s Advisory Board. We had our usual meetings. It was a special moment. Now, we celebrate the life and work of Oldemiro Baloi.”

Source: O País