MAPUTO – President Daniel Chapo has called on Mozambicans to reject corruption and build a country grounded in honesty and justice as the country marked its 50th independence anniversary on Wednesday.
Speaking at the newly renamed National Independence Stadium in Machava during the golden jubilee celebrations, Chapo told thousands gathered for the official ceremony that corruption continues to sabotage development efforts and erode trust in public institutions.
“Corruption weakens both public and private institutions. We will step up efforts to strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms across government departments, state-owned companies and even in the private sector,” he said.
Mozambique gained independence from Portugal on 25 June 1975 following a protracted liberation war. The commemorative event was attended by regional leaders including Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan—guest of honour—Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, Portugal’s Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Guinea-Bissau’s Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
President Chapo said Mozambique must chart a future founded on moral principles, civic responsibility and transparency. He urged citizens to be “ashamed of being corrupt or corrupting others.”
The head of state also pointed to recurring natural disasters, armed insurgencies and post-election instability as some of the country’s major development challenges. He assured citizens that his government remains focused on economic recovery and food security.
“We want a Mozambique where nobody goes hungry, where our young people and women are equipped to take part in creating prosperity for their families and the nation,” he said.
The president also appealed for a peaceful environment that would support the responsible use of the country’s vast natural resources—from land and sea to minerals—warning that development would remain elusive without good governance and functional institutions.
The golden jubilee event featured a military parade, cultural performances and speeches, including one by a group of Mozambican citizens who also turned 50 this year. The National Independence Stadium, formerly Machava Stadium, holds historical significance as the site where Samora Machel declared the country’s independence in 1975.
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