- The 12th Frelimo Congress, the last to be held before the ruling party’s candidate is chosen for the 2024 presidential elections, begins next Friday, September 23. More than a party matter that concerns the members of Frelimo, the Congress interests all Mozambicans for several reasons. First of all because it is the most important meeting of the political party that has ruled Mozambique since 1975, the year of the proclamation of National Independence.
The decisions that will come out of the Congress will affect the lives of more than 30 million Mozambicans. For better or for worse. The way Mozambique is governed reflects the quality of the debate and the decisions that are taken by the Frelimo Party. The increase in poverty levels, the Government’s disregard for the humanitarian crisis in Cabo Delgado, the closing of space, and the repression of fundamental freedoms are a reflection of the way the Frelimo Party thinks Mozambique.
In the closing speech of the second extraordinary session of Frelimo, the president of the ruling party said that the XII Congress will prioritize the debate on economic issues and the fight against violent extremism that affects Cabo Delgado, with tendencies of spreading to Nampula1 . Other issues that will be discussed include decentralization at the district level, strengthening the capacity for national defense, increasing production and productivity and its link to industrialization, sustainable management of natural resources, infrastructure development, electricity, water supply, gas, and security.