Thank you, South Africa: Chissano
Thabo Mokgola
9 December 2004
Outgoing Mozambican President Joachim Chissano has thanked South Africa for allowing him to play a role in the country's liberation struggle.
Chissano paid a courtesy visit to President Thabo Mbeki on Wednesday as part of his farewell tour of the southern African region before he hands over power to his still-to-be announced successor.
Speaking to reporters at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, President Chissano said he had not only come to bid South Africans farewell, but to thank them.
"I came here to tell the people of South Africa how happy I feel when I look back and I see that I also could play a small role for the changes that took place in South Africa, and as a consequence of that we could cooperate, and that cooperation has brought a lot of development in my country and the region", he said.
The former African Union chairperson said he carried with him a lot of emotions when recalling what he had to do, not only as head of
state but also in his personal capacity as a brother and a freedom fighter as well as a foreign minister during the presidency of the late Samora Machel.
He said after retiring he would still make himself available to impart his experience to the new leadership of Mozambique whenever required.
He also planned to start a foundation that focused on peace initiatives on the continent.
"This means that I will continue to think about what can be done so that we have more peace in Africa and in the world", he said, adding that the foundation would also deal with development and Africa's cultural identity.
Chissano is set to step down after the election of that country's new leader following polls held last week.
One of the original founders of the Mozambican Liberation Front (Frelimo) that struggled against Portuguese rule, he was elected the nation's president in 1986.
He initiated constitutional and economic reforms and made the first steps toward
a peaceful resolution of the civil war that had been ravaging Mozambique since its independence.
In 1992, his persistence and leadership during a difficult peace process helped to end one of the longest and most devastating wars the continent has known.
During postwar reconstruction, Chissano's government began the arduous process of reviving the economy and developing the country's extensive resources.
New policies and programmes promote rural marketing, provide greater access to credit, and raise the productivity of small-scale farmers.
Achieving peace and economic recovery in Mozambique has had profound implications for the development of the entire southern African region.
Source: BuaNews
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