The declaration of independence in 1975 proclaimed a social contract that contained the ideals of freedom. These included economic and social justice, eradication of hunger and poverty, health and education for all, equality of all people regardless of ethnicity, race and gender, emancipation of women, the rule of law and human rights. But Frelimo has squandered the enormous political capital it enjoyed at independence. The party remains in power by using violence, intimidation, harassment and threats. Generalised lawlessness characterise Mozambique today.
AuthorDavid Matsinhe
David Matsinhe holds a PhD in political sociology from the University of Alberta where he was Canada Graduate Scholar. David is Southern Africa Lusophone research specialist at Amnesty International, and adjunct professor of African studies at Carleton University.
Prior to Amnesty International, he was senior lecturer of social innovation and development studies at the University of Johannesburg, World Bank senior adviser on change management in the Ministry of Education in Mozambique, and social innovation analyst for the Federal Government of Canada. David is the author of the book Apartheid Vertigo: The Rise in Discrimination against Africans in South Africa (Ashgate Publishers, 2011), "Africa's Fear of Itself: The Ideology of Makwerekwere in South Africa" (Third World Quarterly, 2011), among others.