"It is legitimate to say that the union of Mozambicans, signed in 1962, [the year the Mozambican Liberation Front was founded] and the sacrifices made by our heroes during the ten years of the fight for our homeland were worth it," said Nyusi.
The head of state spoke at Praça dos Heroes, in Maputo, during the speech alluding to the central ceremonies celebrating 49 years of national independence, achieved on June 25, 1975.
With national independence, the country registered "development in several directions", in the areas of health, agriculture, education, arts and culture, energy, civil service and justice, he continued.
The Mozambican President pointed out that the country managed to end the 16-year civil war in 1992 and that the political struggle is currently being fought at the polls.
Filipe Nyusi considered that the process of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) of former guerrillas of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the main opposition party, is making progress.
"Of the 5,221 [guerrillas] covered by the DDR, as of June 20, 4,273 already had their pensions fixed and 3,547 are already in payment," he added.
"We appeal to former guerrillas who have not yet come forward" for the regularization of their pensions, to do so "as soon as possible to close the DDR", he said, estimating that 948 people are missing.
The head of state pointed to the terrorist attacks in the province of Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, as a challenge to peace and security, defending national unity as an instrument for victory against armed violence in that region.
"The great challenge is to control the terrorism that is disturbing some districts of the province of Cabo Delgado, but we are convinced that if we are united, we will win", declared the Mozambican President.
Filipe Nyusi today led the central ceremonies celebrating 49 years of national independence as head of state for the last time, as he is concluding the last of two constitutionally permitted terms.
The head of state distinguished 851 national citizens with the "Veteran Medal of the Struggle for the Liberation of Mozambique".
On June 25, 1975, the first President of Mozambique, Samora Machel, and leader of Frelimo, proclaimed national independence, ending the chapter of Portuguese colonization in the territory.
