Mozambique’s writer Mia Couto suggests the creation of a government “that has the best” and that “there is only one law”, whether they are powerful or not, after next Wednesday’s general elections in Mozambique.
“I hope Mozambique wins, in the sense that we have a Mozambique that has only one law, that doesn’t have a law for the powerful and a law for those who don’t have power, that’s what I hope happens,” said Mia Couto, speaking to Lusa in Maputo, on the sidelines of the launch of the book ʽA Cegueira do Rioʼ.
For Mia Couto, who won the 2013 Camões Prize and has been out of the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) for several years, after the general elections on 9 October, Mozambique should form a government made up of “the best”, regardless of the political formation to which they belong.
“After the elections, why not make a government with the best, regardless of political colour? Why not choose those who are technically prepared to fulfil the governance functions? I think it would be a good example for the world, for Africa, to make a government that wasn’t just one party,” said the writer, noting that he expects changes from the new government to be formed.
Mia Couto added that he hopes that the new president to be elected and his government will be able to understand that Mozambique is going through a difficult time, as it was at independence in 1975, and that politicians must unite for the country.
“The idea is not to replace one party with another but to change the perspective of what it means to govern and be a leader. The complex issues we face cannot be solved with speeches that simplify reality and are made based on easy demagoguery,” he explained.
“Above all, these political forces need to say that we are going to come together in whatever way we can to resolve this issue of a country that has a war, that is in the midst of a very serious international crisis, so I think we will have to learn to do this together again,” he added.
Mozambique is holding its seventh presidential elections next Wednesday – in which the current head of state, Filipe Nyusi, who has reached the constitutional limit of two terms, is no longer running – at the same time as the seventh legislative elections and the fourth for provincial assemblies and governors.
The writer fears a repeat of the escalation of post-election violence, similar to the 2023 local elections, emphasising that such events “tarnish the sense of democracy”.
“I think anyone who complains has to do so in a civic manner. In previous elections, I heard many voices complaining and threatening to publish minutes that had been subjected to fraud, and then there was never any publication. There’s so much noise, and then I’d like to see, as a citizen, proof that the results have been falsified, and if I’m not presented with it, I start to doubt the motives of those protesting,” he concluded.
Mia Couto was born in Beira, Mozambique, in 1955. He was a journalist and teacher and is currently a biologist and writer.
Winner of the Camões Prize in 2013 and the José Craveirinha Prize in 2022, he is the author, among others, of “Jerusalem”, “The Last Flight of the Flamingo”, “Night Voices”, “Dull Stories”, “Sleepwalking Land”, “The Balcony of Frangipani” and “The Lioness’s Confession”.
According to figures from the National Electoral Commission, more than 17 million voters are registered to vote on Wednesday, including 333,839 registered abroad.
Running for the presidency are Daniel Chapo, backed by the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), Ossufo Momade, backed by the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the largest opposition party, Lutero Simango, backed by the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), the third largest parliamentary force, and Venâncio Mondlane, backed by the Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos).
Source: Lusa