Guebuza in ‘Open Presidency’ in Nampula

30 May 2011

Maputo — Mozambican President Armando Guebuza on Monday criticised those who still do not believe that it is possible to do away with poverty.

Addressing a rally in the administrative post of Nihessiue, in his home district of Morrupula, in the northern province of Nampula, Guebuza said that the government is committed to the search for solutions that will step up the fight against poverty.

The government’s main concern was to relegate poverty to the history books, he stressed, but, despite the achievements made so far, there were still those who doubted that victory in this struggle is possible.

To ensure that the struggle could be won, he continued, it was important that all Mozambicans should march forward together, united in work, and in strengthening peace and national unity.

“United, we all managed to defeat Portuguese colonialism”, he said. “Later, we fought and we triumphed in the struggle for peace. United and at peace we will be able to overcome poverty”.

Speaking on the first stage of his “open and inclusive presidency” in Nampula, Guebuza said there is still a long way to go before poverty will be eradicated. The lesson that could be drawn from the past was that, if Mozambicans continue to work in a decisive and determined way, then poverty would eventually be eliminated, just as colonialism was eliminated.

Asked for their opinion on the obstacles facing the fight against poverty, residents of Nihessiue complained to Guebuza about lack of schools, electricity and water supply. They called for a hospital in the area, a bank where they could deposit their savings, and investment to create jobs.

A group of workers from the construction company ECMEP (Roads and Bridges Construction and Maintenance Company) told Guebuza that have not been paid their wages for the past 11 months, and as a result their families have been thrust into extreme poverty.

Guebuza replied that these concerns show clearly that Mozambique is still poor “because there are still basic things that we do not have”.

“We must continue to work for the development of the country”, he said. “Water is something precious and indispensable that all of us should have, but some of us still do not have access to clean water”.

Mad/pf (382)

AllAfrica – All the Time