Presidente da Frelimo, Filipe Nyusi, na abertura da III Sessão Ordinária do Conselho Nacional da OJM
Matola, 2 Apr (AIM) – Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, speaking in his capacity as President of the ruling Frelimo Party, on Monday challenged the Mozambique Youth Organisation (OJM), the youth wing of the party, to secure a significant victory for Frelimo in the presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections scheduled for 9 October.
Nyusi launched the challenge at a meeting of the OJM National Council, held in the southern city of Matola.
“Prepare for an expressive, clear and convincing victory for Frelimo in the elections”, he urged. “This is our and your top priority at the moment, without any question. This is the command that Frelimo is giving”.
Nyusi said the OJM meeting should mark the start of Frelimo’s march towards a historic victory in October elections, based on the experience of over 60 years of existence of Frelimo
.
He also challenged the OJM to ensure that unity, concord and cohesion reign within Mozambican youth, as a condition for the organization to continue to respect the democratic principles that reflect the nature of Frelimo.
“The OJM must assert itself as a point of convergence of constructive ideas and not of group agendas that only contribute to the division and weakening of the party. The OJM must not be transformed into a vehicle for the appetites of individuals. To this end, it must be ready against all kinds of internal or external maneuvers that could jeopardize the integrity of Frelimo and Mozambicans”, he said.
“Our young people should not allow disunity among Mozambicans”, he warned. “We should never forget the teaching of the late President Samora Machel that youth is the stage for confrontation between the forces of progress and of reaction”.
The president acknowledged that the country’s stability has been conditioned by terrorist attacks in parts of the northern province of Cabo Delgado since 2017, which continue to kill innocent citizens, destroy public and private property, generating fear and forcing people to flee to safe areas.
However, according to Nyusi, the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), consisting of young people with bravery, courage and a high sense of patriotism, have made the greatest sacrifices, including their own lives, and supported by the forces of friendly countries and the local force (peasant militia and war veterans), are continuing to fight the enemy successfully on the ground.
“We pay tribute to your colleagues and young people engaged in the ranks of the FDS, in the fight against terrorism, in defense of Mozambique’s sovereignty, integrity and territoriality”, Nyusi declared. “We welcome the OJM’s initiatives to unconditionally express solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the ranks of the FDS, in raising awareness among young people not to join the ranks of terrorists and to remain vigilant against possible terrorist movements”, Nyusi said.
He also called on young Mozambicans to remain vigilant against other types of crime, particularly kidnappings, which slow down investment and reduce the number of jobs that young people so desperately need.
“Frelimo is proud of your generation, which is keeping the flame alive”, Nyusi said. “Be bold and work hard so that your generation is recorded in Mozambique’s history as those who led the country to full political, economic, social and cultural emancipation”, he said.
At the close of the meeting, the Frelimo General Secretary, Roque Silva, denounced unnamed groups of citizens who are allegedly attacking Frelimo and its leadership in order to weaken Frelimo’s internal cohesion.
Such groups are using social media and parts of the Mozambican press (again unspecified) for “the constant spread of false news, with the sole aim of portraying an alleged crisis inside Frelimo”.
These attacks, claimed Silva, focus on “the manipulation of young people for outside agendas” – hence his warning that youth “should not allow themselves to be captured”.
(AIM)
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