By Mbono Mdluli
MBABANE – Mozambique’s new President, Daniel Francisco Chapo, is seeking guidance from His Majesty King Mswati III and other African Heads of State and Government as he assumes his role.
According to Eswatini TV, Chapo, 47, has requested the king and other African leaders to be accessible whenever he seeks advice. Chapo made this appeal yesterday, January 15, 2025, during his inauguration as Mozambique’s fifth president.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at Maputo Independence Square and was attended by several African Heads of State and Government, including Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini of Eswatini, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. Channel Africa reported that Ramaphosa and Embaló were the only African Heads of State present at the inauguration.
Former Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano and former First Lady Graça Machel also attended the event. Tanzania was represented by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, while the Commonwealth was represented by Assistant Secretary-General Professor Luis Gabriel Franceschi.
Before the inauguration, outgoing President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi officially handed over all responsibilities to Mozambique’s Chief Justice (CJ), Adelino Manuel Muchanga. In his farewell speech, Nyusi congratulated Chapo on this significant and challenging milestone. He urged the ruling party, the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), and other political parties to collaborate for the nation’s progress.
After Nyusi’s speech, Chief Justice Muchanga swore in President Chapo. In his inaugural address, Chapo pledged to respect and uphold the Constitution of Mozambique. He announced plans to streamline government operations by reducing ministries and eliminating deputy ministerial positions, a move he said would save 17 million Mozambican Meticais (approximately E5.1 million).
Chapo also promised to engage in dialogue with opposition parties to ensure sustainable peace and development in Mozambique. He emphasized prioritizing the welfare of civil servants, including nurses, teachers, and soldiers, and expressed a firm commitment to combating corruption, warning that severe consequences awaited those found guilty of misappropriating public funds.
The new president outlined plans to tackle unemployment, particularly among the youth. As of December 2023, Mozambique’s overall unemployment rate was 3.67%, down from 3.79% in 2022, according to reports from Statista and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The youth unemployment rate also dropped by 1.3% in 2023, reaching 7.58%. However, youth unemployment remains a challenge, largely due to inadequate skills for entering the job market.
Chapo faces the daunting task of restoring peace in Mozambique amidst ongoing political unrest. The unrest followed the October 9, 2024, elections, which Chapo reportedly won. However, his opponent, Venâncio Mondlane, contested the results, alleging electoral fraud. The disputed elections have triggered unrest, forcing many to flee as refugees to neighboring countries.
International media reported protests during Chapo’s inauguration, resulting in the loss of lives. According to the Club of Mozambique, Mondlane announced on January 15, 2025, that he would unveil his government’s measures for the first 100 days of his “alleged” term on Friday, claiming to be the “president elected by the people” in the contested October elections.