The party's interim secretary general and Frelimo's presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, said that in these 49 years of independence, the Mozambican people are the real heroes, who have managed to overcome various adversities, namely the 16-year war, floods, cyclones, among other evils.

Daniel Chapo, who was speaking today in Maputo, in the Praça dos Heróis, as part of the national independence festivities, said that the challenge ahead is linked to the fight against terrorism in some districts of Cabo Delgado province.

"At the moment, we have the problem of terrorism, and the Mozambican people remain resilient and focused on fighting it and developing. So it's 49 years since independence and we've achieved a lot in the health and education sectors," said Chapo.

Quoted by the newspaper Domingo, Frelimo's interim secretary-general believes that the biggest challenge has to do with the need for economic independence. "We proclaimed independence on June 25, 1975, but as a country we are still dependent on external support in terms of the state budget to develop the country, so we have to continue to make investments, whether public or private," he urged.

However, the source noted that it would be a long journey, just like the armed struggle for national liberation. "Economic independence can also take years, but it's fundamental as Mozambicans to unite so that this goal can be achieved, and to promote development with our resources," he said.

(Photo DR)