The President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, called this Sunday for the promotion of love, reconciliation and communion among Mozambicans, as fundamental pillars for the country's development.

Speaking during the Easter Mass celebrated at Santa Ana Parish in Dondo, Sofala province, which he attended with his wife, First Lady Gueta Selemane Chapo, the statesman stressed that "hatred doesn't develop anyone", and reiterated that peace must be the foundation of social, political and economic relations in Mozambique.

At the reunion with the parish where he was baptized and confirmed, the President of the Republic stressed the spiritual importance of the occasion. "First of all, I would like to thank God for allowing us to be here today, at this time [...]. We are here by the grace of God," he said, visibly moved by returning to the church of his childhood.

The Head of State described the visit as a homecoming, to his "family in Christ". Recalling his Christian upbringing in the Santa Ana parish, he described the festive atmosphere he found at the Easter celebration.

"Today, the parish is a dance. A lot of celebration, a lot of joy, and we're happy to be here. It is said that a good son returns home," he said, underlining his attachment to his roots and the Christian faith.

President Chapo justified the absence of previous visits by the intense post-election context. "January was the month of the inauguration, and then we saw a lot of violence, a lot of destruction [...], the focus had to be on bringing peace and stability to the Mozambican people," he explained, rejecting the paths of violence and political intolerance.

Quoting the Scriptures, the President of the Republic reaffirmed that his government is guided by the values of love and peace. "I leave you peace, I give you my peace, love one another," he recalled.

According to him, it was this principle that guided the meetings held with parties and candidates who took part in the last elections, with the aim of strengthening peace and guaranteeing political, economic and social stability in Mozambique.

Emphasizing Christian values, the Head of State argued that "Christ is peace. Christ is love. Christ is forgiveness. Christ is brotherhood," and urged Mozambicans in all regions to resolve their conflicts through dialog and not violence.

"Violence begets violence. Hatred breeds hatred. That's why it's important that we cultivate love," he appealed. The president took the opportunity to congratulate Mozambican Christians, wishing them a happy and peaceful Easter, and calling on them to unite in their efforts to consolidate peace.

In the end, he thanked the Mozambican people, "from Rovuma to Maputo, from Zumbo to the Indian Ocean, including the diaspora", for their collective efforts towards national unity.

"What develops is peace, it's security, it's harmony, it's reconciliation, it's communion between brothers, it's fraternity between brothers," he said.

The Easter celebration in Dondo thus served as a platform for the President of the Republic to reiterate his commitment to the stability of the country, guided by Christian and humanist values, in a clear message of hope and unity for all Mozambicans.