IOM: Over 110,000 displaced in Mozambique amidst surging violence as needs soar
From left to right: José Castiano, Tomás Vieira Mário and Severino Ngoenha. [Photo: O País]
Renowned Mozambican academics Severino Ngoenha and José Castiano argue that the country is going through its worst moments since Mozambique’s independence. Speaking during the launch in Maputo of the book, “Manifesto for a Third Way”, the thinkers said that the crisis should serve as an opportunity to establish true democracy.
The work by the two Mozambican philosophers is a critique, and at the same time a warning about the tragedies that have put social justice and national unity at risk.
The 16-year civil war and the hidden debts are, according to the authors, part of the main source of Mozambicans’ unhappiness, caused by persons who lack ethics.
Ngoenha and Castiano gathered dozens of people in a room in Maputo to draw attention to the need to think profoundly about Mozambique.
“We are in a bad moment, very bad, perhaps one of the worst we have ever experienced. Today, we may wake up with a divided Mozambique, with tribalism and regionalism the order of the day. There are many outside interests that want this. I think it’s the most disastrous thing that could happen. We cannot accept this blindly. We are at a point when even the political parties are disoriented,” Ngoenha said.
Severino Ngoenha argues that politicians in Mozambique should be elected based on their governance projects, as opposed to what actually happens.
“Those who put themselves forward as President of the Republic must be elected by presenting their projects, presenting what each one brings, not being elected because they were born in the south, north, centre, east or west. Education in this country is a disaster, health is worse; there is no housing, there are no schools, we are at war. Therefore, we must question what each of the candidates who want to be President of the Republic, brings, what he wants to do, what his social projects are,” Ngoenha maintained.
Launched in Beira in 2019, “Manifesto for a Third Way ” also reflects on the powers that some institutions accumulate.
“Personally, I think that what should follow the debate is to look at the nature of institutions and how they can be reconfigured, in order to at least find consensus. When we talk about institutions, we must also talk about the values that should underlie these institutions, such as social justice,” José Castiano said.
The philosopher’s expectation is that Mozambique will have to survive with a minimum of consensus and social justice.
In the book, “Manifesto for a Third Way”, the authors outline an eight-point series of arguments, based on a reading of our young history.
In effect, they argue that, for the proposal they present, including the colonial past would be contradictory, as this phase is marked by the denial of the Mozambican subject.
Presenting the book in Maputo, journalist and jurist Tomás Vieira Mário suggested a need “to go to the Machava Stadium, not to hear President Samora’s speech, but to look each other in the eye and say what we want: the return of the colony or continuing the libertarian march; to say what we are willing to do to maintain our independence and define how we want to live together”.
Ngoenha and Castiano point out that thinking about the country, is not the task of any specific group, whether partisan or associative, but one for all Mozambicans.
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.