Independence Celebrations Under Anti-Poverty Banner

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Mozambique's Minister of Women's Affairs and Social Welfare, Virgilia Matabele, declared on Wednesday that the government wants all citizens to be involved in the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the country's independence "so that we will have dignified commemorations, expressing our Mozambican identity without any distinction of race, sex, religious belief, political affiliation or any other form of discrimination".

She was speaking at a meeting with organisations that work on issues of gender and social welfare, called to exchange ideas about how to celebrate the date. This was one of a series of meetings that government members are holding with those civil society bodies that work in the areas covered by their portfolios. For Matabele, these commemorations were an unequalled opportunity "to reflect upon our post-independence achievements in favour of Mozambican citizenship and identity".

She said that the celebrations will be launched officially on 21 May, at Nangade, on the border with Tanzania. A torch will be carried on a march from the far north of the country to the south, under the theme "From the Rovuma to the Maputo, together in the Struggle against Poverty". (The Rovuma and the Maputo are the rivers marking the northern and southern boundaries of the country.) The march will terminate in Independence Square in Maputo City, where the celebrations will culminate on the anniversary itself, 25 June.

Matabele said the government hopes, through these commemorations, to reaffirm the historic importance of the date, to promote the values of citizenship, to contribute to the education of new generations in patriotic values, and to stress the importance of involving the entire population in the fight against poverty.

She called on her audience to involve themselves in work to make this date a moment of joy, of togetherness, and of reflection on what has been done over the past 30 years.