According to the Mozambican government, at least 40,000 people are expected at the historic Machava Stadium, the site where Mozambique’s independence was proclaimed on June 25, 1975.
At least 32 heads of state have confirmed their attendance at the 50th anniversary celebrations of Mozambique’s independence, which will take place at the historic Machava Stadium. The venue is expected to be ready 48 hours before the event, the government announced.
“What I can guarantee is that invitations were sent and we have confirmation from 32 heads of state for the ceremony, as well as from some former heads of state,” said government spokesperson Inocêncio Impissa during a regular press conference.
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is among the confirmed attendees, following the approval by the Portuguese parliament of his official visit to Mozambique on June 25, despite opposition votes from the Liberal Initiative party.
The Mozambican government expects at least 40,000 people at Machava Stadium, the location where independence was officially declared on June 25, 1975. Fifty years later, it will host the central festivities.
“The current mobilization efforts aim to ensure that as many Mozambicans as possible who want to participate and witness the event in person can do so without discrimination,” said Inocêncio Impissa. He added that the stadium gates will open to the public at 5:00 a.m. local time (4:00 a.m. in Lisbon).
The spokesperson also stated that renovation work at the stadium is ongoing but assured that it will be ready 48 hours before the celebration.
“The work [at Machava Stadium] has taken place at various levels, and we are now in the finishing phase. We believe that the venue will be fully ready to welcome all Mozambicans 48 hours before the event,” he stressed.
Civil engineer Samuel Muzime, advisor to the board of Mozambique Ports and Railways (CFM) — which owns the stadium located on the outskirts of Maputo and is overseeing its renovation — had previously admitted to Lusa that renovation costs were overrunning due to unforeseen interventions after decades without any major work.
“The initial estimate was around 10 million dollars [8.8 million euros], but with a 50-year-old facility, we’ve encountered many surprises. We’re now quite over budget — I’d say by at least 50%,” he noted.
After the independence celebrations, the renovations will continue, aiming to get the facility approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) so it can once again host matches by Mozambique’s national football team. The team is currently barred from playing in the country after the National Stadium of Zimpeto in Maputo was banned for not meeting minimum standards.
Machava Stadium is usually home to Ferroviário de Maputo, one of several “railway” clubs in the country supported by CFM. However, the multipurpose venue has not been used for the past four years due to its poor condition. This is its first major renovation in over 50 years.
With an official capacity of 45,000 people, construction of the stadium began in 1963 on a plot of more than 30 hectares in Matola. Originally named Estádio Salazar, it was inaugurated in 1968 with a historic football match between the national teams of Portugal and Brazil.
Source: Forbes África Lusófona
