The former President of the Republic, Joaquim Chissano, says that the armed struggle in Mozambique was inevitable in the search for the country's independence.

Quoted by Rádio Moçambique, Chissano explained that it was never the intention of Mozambicans to start an armed struggle as a way of demanding national independence from the Portuguese regime.

He also said that even with the outbreak of the armed struggle for national liberation, the Mozambique Liberation Front never discarded the path of dialogue with the oppressor, culminating in the signing of the Lusaka agreements on September 7, 1974.

Even so, there were forces against national independence involving some Mozambicans.

The former President of the Republic was speaking this Saturday in Matola, Maputo province, as part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Victory Day.