Africa-Press – Mozambique. Marking International Youth Day, Mozambique’s Institute for Multiparty Democracy (IMD), a non-governmental organization (NGO), today called on young people to actively participate in political dialogue aimed at state reforms.
“The ongoing national dialogue represents an opportunity that young people cannot miss. Therefore, we urge young people to organize, actively participate, and influence the process, ensuring that the results of this dialogue reflect the aspirations, priorities, and vision of this generation,” the IMD said in a statement.
Today marks International Youth Day, this year celebrated under the theme “Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation Through Technology and Partnerships”, with the Mozambican NGO calling on young people to actively participate in the search for peace in the country.
“This is an essential step towards building a more inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous nation for all Mozambicans”, the organization argues, calling for the involvement of young people in strengthening and consolidating the democratic rule of law.
“At a time when the country faces structural challenges linked to the cyclical occurrence of natural disasters and political-military conflicts, weak democratic institutions, a weak capacity to provide quality public services, high levels of population growth and urban migration, and economic dependence, young people are called to be agents of change, to engage in decision-making processes, and to promote constructive dialogue,” the document adds.
The IMD also praises the efforts of young people in combating the insurgency in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, which has been the target of terrorist attacks since 2017, calling for active citizenship in building “a more just, cohesive, and democratic nation”.
In April, Mozambican president Daniel Chapo signed into law the Political Commitment for an Inclusive National Dialogue, approved days earlier in parliament, based on the agreement signed on March 5 between the Mozambican president and political parties to overcome the violence and social unrest that followed the October general elections.
The agreement to pacify Mozambique led to the creation of the Technical Commission for National Dialogue (COTE), which will, over two years, address the definition of republican and nonpartisan security forces, a new electoral model, and the revision of the Constitution of the Republic.
According to the law, among other functions, COTE will also be responsible for leading state reform, specifically “revision of the Constitution of the Republic, the political system, the powers of the head of state, the depoliticization of institutions, and the decentralization and deconcentration of political, economic, and financial structures, including tax reform”.
It will also prepare reforms to the justice system, specifically the “mechanism for appointing the heads of justice bodies and their respective financial and administrative independence”, and the reform of the electoral system, “defining a new model, composition of electoral administration bodies, electoral legislation, and electoral justice bodies”, thereby contributing to the “integrity of the entire electoral process”.
Mozambique has experienced social unrest since the October 9, 2024, elections, with demonstrations and strikes called by Mondlane, who rejects the election results that gave victory to Daniel Chapo, supported by the ruling Frelimo party, who was sworn in as the country’s fifth president.
Around 400 people died as a result of clashes with the police, conflicts that ceased after meetings between Mondlane and Chapo on March 23 and May 20, aimed at achieving peace.
However, Venâncio Mondlane, not having a party at the time, was left out of the agreement signed in March with all Mozambican political representatives.
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