Mozambique: Portuguese community resilient despite post-election tension concerns – ambassador

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Mozambique: Portuguese community resilient despite post-election tension concerns – ambassador

8:23 CAT | 03 Dec 2024

File photo: Lusa

The Portuguese Ambassador to Mozambique, António Costa Moura, said on Monday that the Portuguese community is living the current moment of post-election tension in the country with “concern”, but also with “resilience” and “a great spirit of mutual help”.

“The feeling is one of perplexity and concern, but at the same time of a lot of courage and resilience and, fundamentally, a lot of spirit of mutual help,” said the diplomat yesterday in Maputo, as he took stock of various meetings he has held in recent days with representatives of the Portuguese community, including businesses.

“I am seriously convinced that, with the day-to-day support of the embassy, the consulate-general, with the protection and institutional support of the government, of the Portuguese authorities in Lisbon, who continue to be very attentive to the evolution of this reality, we will be able, if and to the extent that our Mozambican brothers and sisters here see fit, to help and contribute to a solution,” said the ambassador.

There are no consolidated figures for the number of Portuguese living and working in Mozambique, but the national authorities estimate that there are tens of thousands, as well as around 400 companies with links to Portugal operating in the country.

Since 21 October, Mozambique has been experiencing a period of intense protest over the process surrounding the 9 October general elections, with consecutive stoppages and demonstrations, some of which have degenerated into clashes with the police, including in Maputo and essentially called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who does not accept the announced results of the vote, which still have to be validated by the Constitutional Council.

“Since the beginning of this most troubled period of political and social life in Mozambique, we have redoubled our efforts to ensure the security of the community and we have followed the movements of the political forces, the political, social and economic actors in this country particularly closely. I say redoubled because this is part of our day-to-day life, the security of the community and the monitoring of the internal political situation, is part of the day-to-day life of both the Embassy and the Consulate General,” emphasised António Costa Moura.

In recent weeks, the Portuguese embassy and consulate-general in Maputo have held several meetings with representatives of the Portuguese community, the last of which took place on Saturday.

“What we’ve learnt is that there is concern, which is a latent concern, but there is also the strong conviction that the Portuguese community is a community that is very well integrated in this country, it’s a community that has already shown great resilience on other occasions, which were also very complicated,” he stressed, guaranteeing that he continues to “follow events”.

“There is great hope that our Mozambican brothers and sisters, the public institutions of this country, will be able to resolve the problem at hand on their own. We seriously believe that it will be possible to reach an understanding and that step by step the Mozambicans themselves, who are primarily responsible for solving their own problems, will be able to do so,” he said.

The Portuguese Consulate General in Maputo is part of the multidisciplinary team set up by the Embassy and has been monitoring the security situation and assessing the impacts and risks for the community.

“Throughout this period of demonstrations, the consulate-general has been open every day, including 7 November, which was perhaps the most tense day so far. This weekend, we tried to reach out more, beyond the usual and regular meetings we hold with figures who represent the Portuguese community in a larger way, and we held an open-door session for anyone who wanted to take part, with around 150 nationals in attendance,” explained the consul-general in Maputo, Fernando Morgado.

He added that after these consultations with the Portuguese community, the conclusion is that they have a “great ability to understand their surroundings” and adapt.

“Even, despite the volatility of the situation, I would say a certain serenity. Naturally, it’s a situation that requires extra care on everyone’s part, people are aware of this and from our side, what we’ll try to continue to do is keep this door open for our community and also keep in constant contact with the recommendations that are useful and pertinent for the safety of all the Portuguese people here,” concluded Fernando Morgado.

Source: Lusa