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MAPUTO — Outgoing Mozambican President Armando Guebuza has called for solidarity among Mozambicans to face the current flooding in parts of the country’s central and northern regions.

In his final act as Head of State at the ceremony inaugurating his successor, Filipe Nyusi, Guebuza also called for a minute’s silence in memory of those who had perished, not only in the floods, but in the recent mass poisoning which claimed 73 lives in the town of Chitima, in the western province of Tete.

These were moments of pain and sorrow, he said, in which Mozambicans needed to stand together.

Guebuza told the gathering that one political cycle was coming to an end, and another was opening.

Addressing the crowd, who included foreign heads of state and other dignitaries, he declared “your presence is a re-affirmation of the solidarity of your countries and organisations with the agenda of our people, the agenda to claim their inalienable right, the right not to be poor, which is a fundamental right of all men and women on this planet”.

Guebuza added that he regarded his ten years at the helm of the country’s fight against poverty as a success story and he thanked all those who had helped make it possible, including the members of the government, parliamentarians, civil society organisations, and religious and community leaders.

National and foreign investors too “have made a valuable contribution to our economic growth”, he said, while “our development partners deserve our applause for the way in which they have contributed to achieving our agenda against poverty. Today Mozambique has reached other and higher levels of development and speaks of other challenges thanks, in part to your contribution, encouragement and support”.

Guebuza expressed confidence that Nyusi “will continue, and give greater speed, to our advance towards realising our collective dream, the dream of a prosperous, always united and peaceful Mozambique, enjoying growing prestige in the concert of nations”.

He concluded by pledging Nyusi “my full support in the exercise of your duties as President”. — Bernama.