Majaliwa attends inauguration of Mozambique’s President Chapo

MAPUTO: PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa represented President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the inauguration of Mozambique’s President, Daniel Chapo, in Maputo yesterday.

Following the inauguration ceremony at the packed Independent Square, Prime Minister Majaliwa met with President Chapo at the Presidential residence, Ponta Vermelha.

At 48 years old, Chapo officially assumed office as Mozambique’s fifth President. In his inaugural address, he outlined his government’s priorities, including combating corruption, strengthening security and improving education, health and agriculture sectors.

President Chapo also called on the people of Mozambique to unite and work together. He also pledged to reduce government operational costs by downsizing the cabinet.

Last week, the Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, President Samia emphasised the importance of upholding regional peace, calling for action to address the unrest in Mozambique.

According to statement released by SADC, Dr Samia insisted that the SADC region could not afford to ignore what was happening in Mozambique, as it poses significant implications for the socio-economic stability of the entire region.

“SADC region cannot afford to ignore what is happening in Mozambique, especially when it directly impacts the socio-economic fabric of the entire SADC region,” she said.

Yesterday, President Chapo vowed to devote all his energies to defending, promoting and consolidating national unity, human rights, democracy and the well-being of the Mozambican people. Mr Chapo, a lawyer and jurist has become the country’s first president born after independence to assume such a position.

Before being elected Frelimo presidential candidate, President Chapo served as an administrator of the district of Nacala-aVelha and later the governor of Inhambane Province from 2016 to 2024.

On Dec 23 last year the council validated the outcome of the presidential elections.

The 48-year-old former broadcaster and lawyer has never held any government position before his presidential win. Leading opposition parties Mozambique National Resistance Movement and Mozambique Democratic Movement both boycotted the inauguration ceremony.

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President Chapo was declared winner with 65per cent of total votes cast, followed by his main rival Venancio Mondlane who received 24 per cent of the vote, according to the council. The new parliament of 250 lawmakers was inaugurated on Monday.

President Chapo was born on 6 January 1977 in Inhaminga, a town in Sofala province, the sixth of 10 siblings.

This was during Mozambique’s civil war, and the armed conflict forced his family to move to another nearby district.

His secondary schooling in the coastal city of Beira was followed by a law degree from Eduardo Mondlane University then a master’s degree in development management from the Catholic University of Mozambique. He is married to Gueta Sulemane Chapo, and the two have three children.

The inauguration was also attended by the South Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa, and GuineaBissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló.

Others were Vice Presidents from Malawi and Kenya, as well as the prime ministers of Eswatini and Rwanda and eight ministers, including the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Paulo Rangel.