Online Reporter
MAPUTO. – Daniel Francisco Chapo was sworn in as the fifth president of Mozambique during a public ceremony held yesterday in central Maputo, and pledged to unite the country.
“In accordance with Article 149, paragraph 1, of the Constitution of the Republic, I hereby declare His Excellency Daniel Francisco Chapo inaugurated as President of the Republic of Mozambique,” announced Lucia Ribeiro, president of the Constitutional Council.
Chapo vowed “to devote all my energies to defending, promoting and consolidating national unity, human rights, democracy and the well-being of the Mozambican people”.
He said during his inaugural speech that political dialogue was already under way and that “social harmony could not wait”.
“We won’t rest until we have a united and cohesive country on the road to building well-being for all of us.
“It won’t be an easy journey, but we have to have full confidence in the strength of the Mozambican people, of our national unity.”
Responding to calls for dialogue, Chapo has said that he would include opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane in talks.
Mondlane, who returned to Mozambique last week after going into hiding abroad, has said he was ready for talks.
The event held at Independence Square was attended by prominent figures, including former presidents Joaquim Chissano and Armando Guebuza, as well as the outgoing head of state Filipe Nyusi.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Bissau-Guinean President Umaro Sissoco Embalo were also present, along with over 2 000 guests, including representatives of governments, organizations, cooperation partners, and other dignitaries.
In his inaugural speech, Chapo announced plans for administrative reforms, including reducing the number of ministries and eliminating positions such as deputy ministers, reallocating resources to critical sectors. “It will be a smaller government, but one that is highly agile and efficient,” he said.
The post of deputy minister would be replaced by “secretaries of state with clear and well-defined responsibilities, who respond directly to the ministers,” said Chapo.
He took a strong stance against corruption and promised to review the privileges granted to state officials and privatize non-strategic companies to make the government more sustainable.
Chapo also emphasized his administration’s commitment to cracking down on kidnappings and organized crime.
Concluding the ceremony, the outgoing President Filipe Nyusi called for unity among Mozambicans in supporting the new leader. “I urge all Mozambicans to unite behind President Daniel Chapo, so he may lead the country in the best way possible,” Nyusi stated.
Current secretary-general of the ruling party Frelimo, Chapo was born in the central province of Sofala in 1977 and graduated in Law from the Eduardo Mondlane University in 2000, making him the first president of the republic born after the country’s independence in 1975.
On December 23, 2024, Chapo was proclaimed by the Constitutional Council as the president-elect with 65,17 percent of the votes in the October 9 general elections. – Xinhua-AFP
