Chapo promises “new era” for public institutions

Maputo, 25 Oct (AIM) – After his crushing victory in the presidential election held on 9 October, the candidate of the ruling Frelimo Party, Daniel Chapo, has promised “a new era” for the country’s public institutions.

Speaking at the Frelimo headquarters on Thursday shortly after the National Elections Commission (CNE) had declared him the winner with 70.67 per cent of the presidential vote, Chapo stressed the need “to make the institutions stronger”.

“We will try to do better for the Mozambican people, regardless of origin, political affiliation, skin colour and anything else that might make us different”, he promised.

Chapo strongly condemned the murders, a week ago, of two prominent opposition activists – Elvino Dias, the lawyer for independent presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, and Paulo Guambe, an election agent for the Podemos party.

He called for the identification and exemplary punishment of the killers, so as not to perpetuate “a culture of fear and insecurity” in Mozambique. These were not the characteristics of the country he wanted to help build.

“Without peace and without security there is no development”, he stressed.

But he added that the current wave of street demonstrations ordered by Venancio Mondlane was also not the way to build the country’s welfare.

“We repudiate the demonstrations, because we are a party of peace and we will enter into dialogue with all our brothers”, he declared. “I want to be President of all Mozambicans. We shall embark on dialogue, we shall talk. It is not through street demonstrations that the country will be developed”.

“Every Mozambican should contribute with ideas, including those who are demonstrating”, Chapo added. “Let’s talk with them”.

He promised to work for “peace, tolerance, democratic pluralism and a responsible debate of ideas, promoting inclusion”. He would call Mozambicans together “to talk and to seek the necessary paths to reconcile ideas”.

Chapo also made clear that Frelimo would leave for the future any celebration of its victory.
(AIM)
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