Mozambique: Young people should reject ‘gospel of hatred’ – president

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Mozambique: Young people should reject ‘gospel of hatred’ – president

4:18 CAT | 08 Aug 2025

Photo: Domingo

The President of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, on Friday called on the country’s young people to reject the “gospel of hatred” and fight for opportunities, warning that lamenting and giving up “is not the solution” to the current challenges facing young people.

“It is urgent that this fringe group participate in the inclusive national dialogue that we are conducting and that we will launch shortly. With their enthusiasm, young people must reject and condemn the gospel of hatred, replacing it with a discourse of peace, reconciliation and social harmony,” said the Mozambican head of state.

The Mozambican president was speaking on Friday in Maputo at the opening of the 8th National Youth Conference, which is taking place at the Joaquim Chissano International Conference Centre as part of the celebrations of 50 years of independence and in anticipation of International Youth Day, to be marked on 12 August.

Chapo called on young people to act as bridges of dialogue between different interest groups, with the aim of ensuring the country’s development, and recalled that young people are the driving force behind national development, asking each one to “do their part”

“Regret is not the solution, nor is giving up. We must pursue opportunities, pursue our dreams, dream big, despite the challenges, because the great winners in this world, the great victories of great leaders, are achieved after great battles,” he warned.

In the same statements, Chapo insisted on defending peace, saying that it is crucial for national unity, and therefore called on young people to promote these values, including solidarity, which offers hope to Mozambicans.

“We must cultivate patriotism, aware that it is not an empty slogan. Patriotism is serving the country with dignity, respect, responsibility, honesty and hard work, without expecting anything in return. It is rejecting corruption and fighting disinformation,” said the head of state, demanding that young people protect the country’s resources and its good image at home and abroad.

“It is essential to promote peace and reconciliation because Mozambique needs them to develop. Peace is not just the absence of war, it is harmonious coexistence and permanent dialogue between us brothers,” he stressed.

On 24 February, the Mozambican president had already promised to put an end to post-election demonstrations preaching the “gospel of hatred” and to take action to curb crime and corruption, evils that undermine the country’s development.

Since the elections, Mozambique has experienced a climate of intense social unrest, with demonstrations and strikes called by former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who rejects the election results that gave victory to Daniel Chapo, supported by the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) party.

The worst post-election crisis was also marked by violent clashes between police and demonstrators, as well as vandalism and looting.

According to non-governmental organisations monitoring the electoral process, around 400 people died in clashes with the police, which ended after two meetings between Mondlane and Chapo aimed at pacifying the country.

Source: Lusa