The Mozambican government has called for the creation of dedicated spaces where young people can debate peace and conflict prevention, contributing to the development of their communities.
The statement was made by Minister of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, Mateus Saize, during the closing ceremony of the ProPaz project and the consolidation of the National Peace and Reconciliation Forum, held in Maputo. The initiative uses art and culture to promote reconciliation and social cohesion in conflict-affected Mozambican communities. Co-funded by the European Union, the project is implemented by a consortium of civil society organisations.
According to Mateus Saize, ‘young people deserve special attention, as they represent the majority of the Mozambican population and constitute an enormous potential for the development of our country.’ He argued it is therefore essential to create spaces that allow young people to participate actively in the promotion of peace, conflict prevention, and the development of their communities.
In the same address, the minister also highlighted the role of women in mediation, reconciliation, and peacebuilding processes.
‘Their active participation strengthens communities and contributes to more inclusive and lasting solutions,’ he said.
Mateus Saize added that ‘we encourage the results achieved by the ProPaz project not to be exhausted with the formal closure of this initiative, but to serve as a foundation for new actions, partnerships, and new opportunities for cooperation in favour of peace and national reconciliation.’
Also speaking at the event, the executive director of the Institute for Multiparty Democracy (IMD), Hermenegildo Mulhovo, said that ProPaz had gone beyond the scope of a simple project, becoming a permanent space for dialogue among different social and political actors.
He explained that the initiative emerged at a critical phase of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process, when the primary challenge was to rebuild trust among communities, promote the reintegration of former combatants, and create new opportunities for dialogue.
For Hermenegildo Mulhovo, ‘the closure of ProPaz does not represent the end of this journey. On the contrary, it represents the beginning of a new stage.’ He argued that the results achieved must be consolidated through the continuity of the National Peace and Reconciliation Forum and the cooperation networks established among communities, authorities, and civil society organisations.
Representing the European Union, Head of Cooperation Paula Horyaans stated that national reconciliation is a long-term process that requires time, dialogue, and trust.
According to Horyaans, initiatives such as ProPaz demonstrate that ‘it is possible to move from a past marked by divisions towards a more shared, more inclusive, and more peaceful future.’ She reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to continuing to support Mozambique in the promotion of peace, human rights, inclusion, and social justice.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/07/09/economia/desenvolvimento/propaz-governo-defende-espacos-de-participacao-da-juventude-na-consolidacao-da-paz/
