At a press conference, the Frelimo Maputo City first secretary, Hermenegildo Infante, predicted that about 20,000 people would attend the march on Saturday morning, which has been organised by the Frelimo committees in both the city, and in Maputo province.
The march will be held just two days before Guebuza’s 71st birthday, which falls on Monday.
Infante said that, through this demonstration, Frelimo wants to encourage Guebuza, in the final year of his term of office, “to continue with the same vigour and clear-sightedness, and without hesitation, in his noble mission of conducting the destinies of the Mozambican people, always prioritizing the search for and preservation of peace”.
“We are aware that men such as him are irreplaceable, and so we are expressing our conviction that, even after he leaves the top office of state, he will continue to inspire us to take the best decision in favour of Mozambique’s development”, he declared.
Summarising Guebuza’s years in office, Infante stressed the discovery and exploitation of mineral resources, such as titanium-bearing heavy sands, coal and natural gas. These were providing job opportunities, particularly for young Mozambicans.
“The coal and gas megaprojects alone are currently employing about 16,000 young people from all province sin the country”, he declared.
Infante also stressed the decentralized funds for fighting poverty, such as the District Development Fund (FDD) and the Urban Poverty Reduction Strategic Programme which, he claimed, are revolutionising life in both rural and urban area.
“Despite all incitement to violence, Guebuza has been able to transmit to Mozambicans the message that they should face the future with optimism, convinced that they will overcome all difficulties”, he added.
He said that Guebuza “has given back to Mozambicans their sense of self-esteem. With President Guebuza we are building a true Mozambique, dreamed of by Eduardo Mondlane and Samora Machel” (Mondlane was the founder and first president of Frelimo, and Machel was his successor).
Post published in: Africa News