Zim, Moza bond continues to strengthen — President

Wallace Ruzvidzo in MAPUTO, Mozambique

ZIMBABWE and Mozambique share a strong and unshakeable bond of brotherhood that continues to strengthen every year, President Mnangagwa has said.

The SADC Chairman was speaking after attending Mozambique’s 50th Independence Day celebrations here yesterday, which he said were a reminder of how far Harare and Maputo had come.

“Well, Mozambique and Zimbabwe are twins, in the first place,” said President Mnangagwa while addressing the Zimbabwean media.

Mozambique served as the second springboard of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle as several veterans from Zimbabwe fought side-by-side with their FRELIMO counterparts for Harare’s independence.

In 1978, FRELIMO fighters deployed alongside ZANLA fighters and paid the ultimate price on Zimbabwean soil, with some of their remains having been repatriated for reburial.

Such history, said President Mnangagwa, was indicative of how “what affects Zimbabwe affects Mozambique” and vice versa.

“We were assisted to acquire our independence by Mozambique. We were here (Mozambique) when we were fighting Ian Smith . . . so we cannot forget the revolutionary support we received from the people of Mozambique, in particular the FRELIMO party that hosted us and kept us here as we struggled against Ian Smith.

“So, there is that bond of brotherhood, that bond of the struggle between us and the people of Mozambique.

“We are brothers and sisters . . . what affects them will affect us. What affects us will affect Mozambique. We are twins in my view,” said the President.

He recounted Zimbabwe’s experience towards attaining its independence, citing Maputo as the “political headquarters”.

“(We) Zimbabweans prosecuted our war from here and we were based here in Maputo as the political headquarters.

“But of course, Chimoio and so on, were the operational bases as we launched our armed struggle into Zimbabwe.

“But at the political level, we were based here in Maputo,” said President Mnangagwa.

He said Mozambique’s journey towards its Golden Jubilee (50 years) has been long and he was happy to have known the beginning of “the first and 50th year”.

“Some of you know a bit of that length of 50 years. But I am happy that I have walked the 50 years of history which you are asking about,” said President Mnangagwa.

Mozambique’s Golden Jubilee celebrations were held in Maputo under the theme, “50 Years of Independence: Consolidating national unity, peace and sustainable development”.

Apart from President Mnangagwa, other Heads of State who attended the celebrations included Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan, Portugal’s Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Guinea Bissau’s Umaro Sissoco Embalo.

Former Heads of State in attendance included Botswana’s Mokgweetsi Masisi and Ian Khama.

In his keynote address, which was delivered in Portuguese at the Machava Stadium, which has been renamed Independence Stadium, Mozambican President Daniel Chapo said the attainment of economic independence was a top priority under his rule.

“Our vision for the coming years is focused on creating the foundations for economic independence,” he said.

“We want every Mozambican not to go hungry in the next few years, a healthy population, a country with strong, efficient, unbureaucratic, transparent public institutions, facilitators of the business environment and no corruption.”

President Chapo said the renaming of Machava Stadium was a symbolic renewal, considering that it was at the same venue where founding President Samora Machel declared Mozambique independent from Portugal’s colonial rule.

He also rallied the citizens to be proud of the achievements that their country has registered since independence in 1975.

President Chapo singled out the health and education sectors as having witnessed progress, while also acknowledging efforts made by previous Mozambican administrations.

Prior to attending the main celebrations, President Mnangagwa attended a wreath-laying ceremony held at the Heroes Acre Monument.

The ceremony was open to sitting and former Heads of State, and a few other dignitaries.

Following the fulfilment of activities lined up on his packed schedule, the President left for Zimbabwe.

He was seen off at the Maputo International Airport by Mozambique government officials and Zimbabwean Ambassador to Mozambique, Victor Matemadanda.

He arrived home yesterday evening and was welcomed at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, State Security Minister Lovemore Matuke, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere, senior Government officials and service chiefs.