Mozambican writer Mia Couto suggests the creation of a government “made up of the best” and that “there is only one law”, whether they are powerful or not, after the general elections on Wednesday in Mozambique.
“I hope Mozambique wins, in the sense that we have a Mozambique that has only one law, that does not have a law for the powerful and a law for those who have no power, that is what I hope will happen”, said Mia Couto, in statements to Lusa, in Maputo, on the sidelines of the launch of the book ‘A Cegueira do Rio’.
For Mia Couto, winner of the 2013 Camões Prize and who has been out of the life of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo, in power, for several years), after the general elections on October 9, Mozambique must form a government made up of “the best”, regardless of the political party to which they belong.
“After the elections, why not form a government that includes the best, regardless of political affiliation? Why not choose those who are technically prepared to carry out governance functions? I think it would be a good example for the world, for Africa, to form a government that is not just one party”, declared the writer, adding that he expects changes from the new executive to be formed.
Mia Couto added that he hopes that the new President to be elected and his executive will be able to understand that Mozambique is going through a difficult time, similar to 1975, when it gained independence, adding that politicians must unite for the country.
“The idea is not to replace one party with another, we need to change our perspective on what governance is, on what it means to be a leader. The complex issues that we face cannot be resolved with speeches that simplify reality and are based on easy demagogy”, he explained.
“Above all, these political forces need to say that we will join forces in whatever way possible to resolve this issue of a country that is at war, that is in the midst of a very serious international crisis, so I think we will have to learn to do this together, once again,” he added.
Mozambique will hold its seventh presidential elections next Wednesday – in which the current head of state, Filipe Nyusi, who has reached the constitutional limit of two terms, will no longer be running – at the same time as the seventh legislative elections and the fourth for provincial assemblies and governors.
The writer fears that the escalation of post-election violence will be repeated, similar to the 2023 local elections, highlighting that these events “tarnish the sense of democracy”.
“I think that those who complain should do so in a civic manner. In the previous elections, I heard many voices complaining and threatening that they would publish minutes that were subject to fraud, and then that publication never happened. There is so much noise and then I would like to see, as a citizen I need there to be proof that the results were falsified and, if they don’t present it to me, I start to have doubts about the reason for those who protest”, he concluded.
Mia Couto was born in Beira, Mozambique, in 1955, and was a journalist and teacher. He is currently a biologist and writer.
Winner of the Camões Prize in 2013 and the José Craveirinha Prize in 2022, he is the author of, among others, “Jerusalém”, “O Último Voo do Flamingo”, “Vozes Anoitecidas”, “Estórias Abensonhadas”, “Terra Sonâmbula”, “A Varanda do Frangipani” and “A Confissão da Leoa”.
More than 17 million voters are registered to vote on Wednesday, including 333,839 registered abroad, according to data from the National Electoral Commission.
Running for president are Daniel Chapo, supported by the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), Ossufo Momade, supported by the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the largest opposition party, Lutero Simango, supported by the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM), the third-largest parliamentary force, and Venâncio Mondlane, supported by the Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos).
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