Africa-Press – Mozambique. Frelimo Secretary General Roque Silva met leaders of various religious denominations on Friday (September 10) to exchange views on the country’s current challenges, with the emphasis on terrorism and Covid-19.
According to Roque Silva, the event was one of the party’s regular meetings with stakeholders to share points of view on matters of national interest based on a culture of dialogue, the hallmark of Comrade President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi.
On the occasion, the Secretary General (SG) spoke of the advances being made in the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado as a result of the vision of Comrade Filipe Nyusi, Commander-in-Chief of the FADM of, on the one hand, strengthening the combative capacity of our army through better training and equipment and, on the other, mobilising military support from friendly countries like Rwanda and the SADC.
Despite the encouraging results on the battlefield, Roque Silva said it was important for all segments of society to acknowledge that victory in the fight against terrorism requires the involvement of all, with each one doing their part.
Addressing the religious leaders, Roque Silva highlighted the importance of working towards recovering the social fabric, and managing the trauma which men, women, children and youth affected by terrorism suffer from seeing their immediate family members subjected to dismemberment, kidnap and rape, among other forms of violence, all in a society that claims to value peace and harmony.
Roque Silva congratulated the religious leaders on their work supporting those victimised by armed violence in Cabo Delgado and in the central part of the country, and also for the rejection of this unacceptable behaviour.
Concerning Covid 19, the Frelimo SG highlighted the role that religious denominations have played in sensitising the population regarding prevention measures and in mobilising means of protection for vulnerable groups.
He spoke of the efforts of the government led by Comrade President Nyusi in sourcing vaccines for the immunisation of the Mozambican population, having called for everyone to be involved in sensitising the groups covered at each stage to get vaccinated, while the country continued to adhere to the safety measures laid out in sanitary protocols.
In response, the religious leaders thanked Roque Silva for yet another opportunity created by the Frelimo leadership to talk together on very current themes of relevant importance for the country and Mozambican society.
They [religious leaders] recognised the government’s commitment to the fight against terrorism and praised the decision of Comrade President Filipe Nyusi to mobilise military support from friendly countries, especially Rwanda and those of the SADC, the impact of his intervention being positive and encouraging.
The religious leaders highlighted the need for a more articulated work between the different religious denominations to avoid the dissipation of efforts to support the population victimised by terrorism. This also encompassed the need for material and spiritual support for the population affected by terrorism and for structured work with those demobilised under the DDR process.
They publicly acknowledged their responsibility to continue to work with Frelimo on all challenges to the well-being of the people, considering it likewise necessary to join forces in order to support our compatriots who bravely fight relentlessly against terrorist groups in some areas of the province of Cabo Delgado.
The religious leaders requested that the next communication from Comrade President Nyusi might contemplate the reopening of churches and mosques, through a set of measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, including limiting the number of participants and strengthening prevention measures.
