Mozambique: Frelimo Calls for Stronger Measures Against Terrorism

Maputo — The Mozambique ruling party, Frelimo, is urging for more stringent actions against Islamist terrorism afflicting the northern Cabo Delgado province. Pedro Guiliche, Frelimo's spokesperson and a participant at the XI National Conference of Frelimo Cadres in Chimoio, emphasized the need for continuous community vigilance and enhanced preventive measures to combat terrorism.

Despite current control of the insurgency, Guiliche stressed the importance of intensifying the fight against insurgents. In his address, he also urged the 3,000 conference attendees to recognize corruption as a significant hindrance to Mozambique's social and economic advancement. Guiliche pointed out that corruption enables small groups to siphon public funds meant for the majority, resources urgently required for bolstering investments in vital sectors like healthcare, education, and social infrastructure.

He further highlighted the necessity of constructing resilient infrastructure that can withstand natural disasters, emphasizing the need to adapt the country's infrastructure strategy to endure environmental challenges. The conference participants concurred that Mozambique can serve as a regional exemplar for food sovereignty in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region, given its emphasis on domestic agricultural production and consumption.

Moreover, the conference discussed the management of Mozambique's extensive mineral resources, stressing that local communities have not yet benefited from prolonged extraction projects. They urged for domestic processing of raw minerals to create local jobs, promote community ownership, and ensure equitable wealth distribution.