Daniel Chapo Takes Office and Promises to Renew Mozambique

- New President faces the tough challenge of uniting a fractured society

- None of the main opposition leaders attended the investiture

By Noémia Mendes, Ricardo Dias, and Aurélio Muianga

Maputo (MOZTIMES) – Daniel Chapo was sworn in this Wednesday in Maputo as the 5th President of Mozambique, in a ceremony overshadowed by the hundreds of deaths resulting from protests against the election results.

At the start of his inaugural speech, Chapo called for a moment of silence to honour the memory of those who lost their lives, not only in the protests but also due to terrorism in Cabo Delgado and the recent Cyclone Chido.

In his inaugural address, Chapo identified the major challenges plaguing and dividing Mozambicans and pledged to solve them. He addressed issues such as government corruption, social and economic inequalities, lack of opportunities for young people, and the poor quality of essential public services like education, health care, and security.

Chapo vowed to implement far-reaching reforms, including cutting government expenses by reducing the number of ministries and eliminating high-ranking state positions such as deputy ministers, which he said would save approximately 17 billion meticais annually.

“This money will be redirected to where it truly matters: education, health, agriculture, water, roads, and energy, to improve the lives of our people,” Chapo stated.

Chapo also promised to equip the Defence and Security Forces to combat organised crime, such as kidnappings in Maputo, and terrorism in Cabo Delgado.

Priority for Dialogue and Stability

Chapo was declared the winner of an electoral process that was highly contested by the opposition and civil society due to allegations of fraud. Following the announcement of the results, protests broke out, and at least 300 people were killed by the police during the unrest, according to data from Decide, a platform monitoring post-election violence. Other opposition members were assassinated by death squads.

The three opposition presidential candidates, Venâncio Mondlane, Ossufo Momade, and Lutero Simango, did not attend Chapo's inauguration ceremony.

In a society deeply fractured, especially due to post-electoral violence, Chapo promised to adopt dialogue as an immediate action.

“Social and political stability is our top priority,” Chapo declared. “Social harmony cannot wait, nor can the building of consensus on the issues that concern the Mozambican people. For this reason, dialogue has already begun, and we will not rest until we have a united and cohesive country, working towards the well-being of all,” he added.

Just metres away from the venue where Daniel Chapo was being sworn in, dozens of young people were protesting against the event. Heavily armed police officers violently prevented the demonstrators from approaching the site.

https://twitter.com/BorgesNhamirre/status/1879586084587495541

“We want Venâncio, not these people being sworn in,” the protesters chanted. The police fired weapons to disperse the demonstrators, and reports of injuries emerged. However, these incidents were not enough to disrupt the inauguration ceremony.

Actions Beyond Speeches

With a speech of renewal and reconciliation, much is now expected from Chapo, who is set to announce his government in the coming days. By next Friday, key ministerial appointments are expected to be announced. This will be the new president's first opportunity to demonstrate the inclusivity mentioned in his inaugural address.

“He needs to move beyond the idea of governing solely for the ruling party and look at Mozambique as a whole, leveraging skilled professionals from various sectors, including civil society and the opposition,” said Gabriel Ngmomane, a political analyst, in an interview.

Only two Heads of State attended the inauguration ceremony in person: Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau. Other countries were represented by ministers and other government officials. (NM/RD/AM)

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New York Court to Sentence Manuel Chang on Friday

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