Mozambique’s prime minister lamented the death of the Aga Khan to Lusa on Wednesday, highlighting the legacy of the founder of a network that “was always with Mozambique”, especially in supporting those affected by terrorism in Cabo Delgado.
“We are very saddened, the relationship between Mozambique and the Aga Khan network is long-standing and very positive. They were with us even in the worst moments of our history. The network has always been with Mozambique. We are saddened and have already expressed our feelings of regret,” Benvinda Levi told Lusa.
The prime minister also emphasised the importance of the Aga Khan Network’s projects in Cabo Delgado, a province in the north of the country plagued by incursions by rebel groups since 2017.
“Particularly when terrorism began in Cabo Delgado, they were one of the few who continued on the ground, carrying out their activities and supporting the people. They continue to this day,” added Benvinda Levi.
The network’s main projects in Mozambique are in the education, health, infrastructure and industry sectors, operating mainly in Cabo Delgado and with a cooperation agreement signed in 1998.
Among the main projects is the MozTex company, an investment by the Aga Khan Network, which for 15 years has been trying to revitalise the textile industry in Mozambique, a sector in which the country was once the “giant” in southern Africa.
In total, Rede Aga Khan invested more than $6 million (€5.7 million at the current exchange rate) to set up the factory. However, the main challenge was always the labour force, which had to be trained. The company trained 1,300 employees.
Today, MozTex is present on the international market and produces 5.8 million garments annually, which are mainly exported to South Africa.
The Aga Khan, founder and president of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), and leader of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, died on Tuesday in Lisbon, aged 88, an official source from the Ismaili imamat confirmed to Lusa.
Shah Karim al Hussaini, Prince Aga Khan, 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, was born in Switzerland, grew up and studied in Kenya and the United States, and had links to Canada, Iran and France, and in recent years also to Portugal, with the choice of Lisbon as the world headquarters of the Ismaili community, “Imamat Ismaili”, making it a reference point for the 15 million or so Muslims of the Shiite minority.
Discreet and regarded as one of the richest people in the world, Aga Khan IV was born on 13 December 1936 in Switzerland. He is the son of Prince Aly Khan and Princess Tajuddawlah Aly Khan. He grew up in Kenya, attended Le Rosey School in Switzerland for nine years, and graduated from Harvard in the United States.
He defined himself as “optimistic but cautious”, someone who didn’t learn to be a businessman, who believed that poverty exists but is not inevitable. In the words of friends, he never drank or smoked and devoted much of his time to work and community visits.
Twice married, he had four children, one of whom will probably be his successor.
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has activities in Portugal and abroad in the areas of culture, fashion, festivals, and education, with support for universities and the environment, helping to preserve sites, the social area, sustainability, and health.
Lusa
