By MOZTIMES
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – President Daniel Chapo declared on Wednesday in Maputo that corruption is one of the main obstacles to Mozambique’s development. The Head of State was speaking during the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Mozambique’s independence.
According to Chapo, corruption undermines trust in institutions, diverts public resources, and hampers both economic and social progress.
“Obstacles persist that threaten the foundations of our development. One of the greatest obstacles is corruption,” he stated.
Chapo added that the fight against corruption must be seen as a moral, patriotic, and generational imperative. “Mozambique’s future must be built on values of honesty, integrity, justice, inclusion, good governance, ethics and morality,” he said.
In his speech, the President highlighted the progress made since independence, despite ongoing challenges. In the education sector, he pointed to the reduction in illiteracy, from 93% in 1975 to 38% in 2024.
In the health sector, he noted that the number of health centres and posts had risen from 120 in 1975 to around 1,700 today; hospital beds had tripled, from 10,000 to roughly 30,000; and the infant mortality rate had dropped significantly, from 179 per 1,000 in 1980 to 61 per 1,000 in 2025.
The 50th anniversary of Mozambique’s independence was celebrated in a mass gathering at Machava Stadium, which brought together thousands of people, including foreign Heads of State and Government. (MT)
