As Mozambique celebrates 50 years of independence from Portuguese colonial rule, the golden jubilee has sparked both national pride and political reflection.
The main commemorative ceremony is being held at the historic Machava Stadium in the capital, Maputo — the same venue where founding president Samora Machel declared the country’s independence on 25 June 1975.
President Daniel Chapo is presiding over the event, joined by 32 heads of state, including the President of Portugal, symbolising both the endurance of international ties and the significance of the moment for the southern African nation.
While the atmosphere in Maputo is one of festivity, a contrasting tone emerged from the political opposition.
Venâncio Mondlane, leader of the country’s main opposition party, used the occasion to deliver a sharp rebuke of Mozambique’s current leadership.
He called for a “deep reflection” on the state of the nation, warning that the country is now in the grip of what he described as a new kind of internal colonisation.
“The liberators of yesterday have today become the worst colonisers,” Mondlane wrote in a Facebook post.
“They are insensitive to the suffering of the people, intolerant of criticism, and increasingly authoritarian.”
Mondlane accused the ruling party of stifling dissent and eroding democratic freedoms, claiming that political intolerance is “spreading like a cancer.”
“Dissenting voices are silenced, opponents are persecuted and even killed, and freedom of expression is repressed in the name of regime stability,” he alleged.
His remarks have stirred debate among citizens and observers, highlighting the complex legacy of Mozambique’s hard-won independence and the ongoing struggle to realise its democratic promises.
As the nation celebrates five decades of sovereignty, questions linger about whether the dreams of 1975 have been fulfilled — or deferred by the very leaders who once fought for freedom.
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