Mozambique: About 7.8 million out of a population of 32 million have Internet access
The first presidential visit to Namicopo neighbourhood in Nampula city – Ikweli
7:45 CAT | 16 Nov 2022
Image: Jornal Ikweli
The neighbourhood of Namicopo, the most populous in the country, had the honour last Saturday (12) of receiving the Mozambican head of state, Filipe Nyusi.
Namicopo is known for several reasons, few of which are good. That part of the country has a reputation for harbouring individuals of dubious conduct at the level of the city of Nampula, but also for having managed to get three of their children elected to the presidency of the local municipal council.
“We didn’t come to do inaugurations like we’ve always been doing, because for that we will be coming [on another occasion],” President Nyusi began. “We were working in Nacala. Young people stayed there for months and months preparing to defend the homeland, so we closed the course of the Commando’s Special Forces. So as I was close by, I said, let me go through Nampula, and I asked your governor and he was speaking to the Secretary of State and they said, ‘We’re taking you to Namicopo’,” the president said, to the applause and cheers of those present.
“I came here first to greet the people of Nampula and thank them for everything they have done to keep our national unity in this province, thank you, Koshukuro,” the Mozambican head of state said.
21 former terrorists repent
The President of the Republic took the opportunity to publicly present 21 individuals who had belonged to the ranks of the terrorists carrying out attacks and sowing mourning in Mozambique, especially in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, but who are now allegedly repentant, and some of whom surrendered to the authorities with a view to their re-insertion into society.
They are mostly young people from the Memba and Mogincual districts, and some of them had even participated in the initial processes of the insurgents’ implantation in Cabo Delgado province.
Nyusi asked the young people to henceforth collaborate with government authorities and not to re-join the group which takes the lives of Mozambicans and delays the country’s economic development.
“There is no one here who has no connection with those who are in the bush. Those names that you are talking about are real names, some do not exist because they were taken out of combat during the operations there,” revealed Filipe Nyusi.
“So once again I ask you, if you think you are smart, you came here to deceive us and then continue to communicate with them and send money, no one forgives twice anyone who kills people,” warned Nyusi. “We might as well be serious, we’re not going to do anything, no one is going to touch you, you stay in your houses, you collaborate, report. Those of you who receive a call from Ibn, report it. You know how you talk and he [Ibn] is listening now because he listens a lot when we talk. Old women and old men, children, women and young people sleeping in the bush, now the rain is coming, you have no home, you will stay under the stones, so we want you to behave well, you did well to come back, but behave well,” the president reiterated.
Filipe Nyusi asked the population again to display forgiveness and tolerance towards the repentant. “But on the other hand, there are those who manage to be convinced to join with those who are killing our brothers. They are burning houses, they are destroying tractors, they are robbing banks, they do everything, when they arrive they make a fuss, but we, the Mozambican Defence Forces and the countries that help us work hard, we managed to recover Mocímboa da Praia where they had stayed and which they destroyed, we also managed not to allow them to stay in Palma, in Nangade, in Quissanga, in Macomia, they tried Muidumbe twice, so now they all abandoned because they were chased away,” Nyusi said.
“These few were called, were carried, were led on. So we have to be tolerant, we have to know how to forgive. There are some who misinterpret when the president says, let’s forgive them, they begin to say that one is violating the law, which law is violated when one says ‘do not harm another brother’. And where were these people tried for you to say that they are criminals and be convinced? Some are leaving [the ranks of the terrorists] alone, they call and go to the police, and they say we were deceived and I know my brother who was also deceived, we want to stay in peace, in our homes. We have been mobilising since we gave the first sign in Mocímboa da Praia, now they are performing every day. That’s why I want to ask, those who are coming back and who don’t want to be in the war with the terrorists, they have to come back and they have to stay with us. Did you hear? Shall we forgive? Shall we forgive? Or are we going to leave them there in the bush to organise themselves to come and kill us?” Nyusi asked, and the people responded positively to the pardon.
READ: Mozambique: President denies violating constitution with pardon for alleged insurgents
Source: Jornal Ikweli
Show comments
Also read
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.