Mozambique: Speech on ‘defending homeland’ taken out of context – president

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Mozambique: Speech on ‘defending homeland’ taken out of context – president

5:35 CAT | 25 Feb 2025

File photo: Luisa Nhantumbo/Lusa

Mozambique’s president said on Tuesday that his speech on Monday about the need to “defend the homeland” from demonstrations, “even if it means bloodshed”, was taken out of context, saying that the criticism was aimed at violent protests.

“We have situations in which people end up taking words out of the context in which they were pronounced, with the aim of manipulating public opinion,” said Chapo, at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, which is taking place in Pemba, the provincial capital of Cabo Delgado.

During a rally in Pemba on Monday, Daniel Chapo called for the “defence of the homeland” against demonstrations, “even if it means bloodshed”.

“Just as we are fighting terrorism and there are young people who are shedding blood for the territorial integrity of Mozambique, for the sovereignty of Mozambique, to maintain our independence, here in Cabo Delgado, even if it means shedding blood to defend this homeland against demonstrations, we will shed blood,” said the president.

Today, Chapo said that his statements were aimed at “violent demonstrations”.

“We are calling on people to stop making violent, illegal and criminal demonstrations. These are the demonstrations we’re talking about,” he declared.

The speech has sparked debate on social media over the last 24 hours. Former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who led the post-election demonstrations in Mozambique, has criticised Chapo’s statements as unconstitutional.

Since October, Mozambique has been experiencing severe social unrest, with demonstrations and stoppages called by Mondlane, who rejects the results of the 9 October elections that gave victory to Daniel Chapo in the presidential elections.

The protests, now on a smaller scale, have occurred in different parts of the country. In addition to contesting the results, people are complaining about the rising cost of living and other social problems.

Since October, at least 327 people have died, including around two dozen minors, and around 750 have been shot during the protests, according to the electoral platform Decide, a non-governmental organisation that monitors electoral processes

Source: Lusa