Africa-Press – Mozambique. Former President of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano will receive a ‘Career Award’ at the seventh edition of the ‘Prémios da Lusofonia’ Gala in Lisbon this Saturday, his foundation has announced.
According to a note from the Joaquim Chissano Foundation, the former Mozambican head of state (from November 1986 to February 2005) will be honoured “in recognition of his important role in building peace, reconciliation, reconstruction, democratisation and development of the Republic of Mozambique”.
The note describes the annual Lusophony Awards Gala as a celebration of arts, culture and citizenship within the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP).
“The award of the Lusofonia 2023 Career Prize to Joaquim Alberto Chissano is the corollary of a life dedicated to the Mozambican people, to the global public good and to Portuguese-speaking citizenship,” the gala organisation explains.
Joaquim Chissano was born in Chibuto, Gaza province, on October 22, 1939 and, in 1961, arrived in Portugal to study medicine. However, his actions relating to the colonial regime in Mozambique meant that he had to leave for France.
He was among those who, in Tanzania, in 1962, participated in the founding of the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo, now the party in power).
After the 25th of April events in Portugal, Joaquim Chissano assumed a prominent role in the negotiations between Frelimo and the Portuguese government which led to Mozambique’s independence.
In the transitional government in Mozambique, Chissano assumed the role of prime minister, having already served as minister of foreign affairs in the government led by Samora Machel.
On November 6, 1986, he became President of the Republic, the second in the country’s history, following the death of the first Mozambican head of state, Samora Machel.
“Joaquim Chissano’s path to citizenship was a path that combined uncompromising Mozambicanity, Africanity and universality. He always had, in all his actions, a vision of modernity and harmony. This context and attitude became very present during the negotiation process that, in 1992, ended the civil war that cast a shadow over Mozambican society,” gala literature recalls.
It adds that “after fulfilling this service to the people of Mozambique”, Joaquim Chissano “took on important international positions, demonstrating his weight and high reputation at an international level”, and is currently also a CPLP Goodwill Ambassador.
“We highlight his assumption of the presidency of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as well as the presidency of the African Union. The intense activity of serving peace and social, economic and cultural development continues to be pursued, now as president of the Joaquim Chissano Foundation, but also integrated into several institutions that promote meritorious and integrative actions at global level, always for the sake of harmony and humanism,” the gala précis concludes.
A sétima edição da GALA PRÉMIOS DA LUSOFONIA irá realizar-se no próximo dia 7 de Outubro de 2023, a partir das 22h00.
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