Chapo and Nyusi campaign side-by-side in Mocímboa da Praia

Chapo’s entry point into Cabo Delgado was Mocímboa da Praia, a city that was partially captured by insurgents during an offensive in August 2020, culminating in the occupation of the strategic port of Mocímboa da Praia. After nearly five days of clashes between the insurgents and the Mozambican naval forces defending the port, the insurgents gained control of the infrastructure.

A year later, in August 2021, Mozambican and Rwandan forces successfully recaptured the port town from the jihadists. This operation was celebrated by displaced residents in refugee camps in Pemba and surrounding areas, many of whom remained hopeful about returning to their homes.

During today’s visit to Mocímboa, Nyusi reflected on the government’s efforts in the region, acknowledging that while some progress had been made, the insecurity in Mocímboa da Praia had prevented the completion of several key infrastructure projects. “The government and FRELIMO had plans to build hospitals, ports, energy facilities, and more, but due to the security situation, not all of these activities were completed. However, we did bring electricity to all administrative posts and banks in this district,” Nyusi said.

Nyusi explained that he would not be actively asking for votes in Mocímboa, as he believed his administration’s work spoke for itself. Instead, he introduced Daniel Chapo as FRELIMO’s preferred candidate for the upcoming elections.

Nyusi reminded the crowd of the government’s hard work in reclaiming the town from insurgents, which had triggered a humanitarian crisis, with thousands of displaced women and children. He stressed that to ensure Mocímboa da Praia does not fall back into insurgent hands, local voters must support FRELIMO and Chapo.

“When you were suffering, nobody came here. And now they will come asking for votes. To keep our districts at peace—Mocímboa, Palma, Quissanga, and others—we must trust FRELIMO and Chapo. They talk a lot, but when people were dying, they didn’t show up,” Nyusi said, standing alongside Chapo during the rally.

Chapo took the stage, using a metaphor to explain the choice ahead of the people of Mocímboa. He likened the election to choosing between four drivers for a long journey, positioning himself as the most experienced and qualified option.

“Imagine you here in Mocímboa are passengers, and you have to choose a driver for the next five years to take you from Mocímboa to Pemba and back. The first driver, you’ve never seen him drive. The second driver is me. You’ve seen me drive in Nacala-a-Velha, then FRELIMO sent me to drive in Palma, then to Inhambane where I drove for eight years. The third driver talks too much and is always angry. The fourth one, well, I’m not even sure he knows how to drive. Now, tell me, who will you choose? Driver number two! FRELIMO hoye!” Chapo declared.

Chapo emphasised that FRELIMO is the only party with the experience to work with the people, and he reiterated that peace is the foundation of development. He praised President Nyusi’s efforts, which led to peace agreements that have allowed development to resume in central Mozambique. He highlighted that the 2024 general elections would be the first in which no political party will be armed, a testament to FRELIMO’s dedication to peace.

Chapo promised to bring lasting peace to Cabo Delgado and defeat terrorism, just as FRELIMO had once defeated colonialism. He also noted that since the government regained control of Mocímboa da Praia, several social infrastructure projects had been rehabilitated to ease the suffering of the population.

“No other party does this in Mozambique. The only party that delivers is FRELIMO. So, on October 9th, let’s vote for FRELIMO and the candidate Daniel Chapo,” Chapo urged.

He promised to restore Mocímboa da Praia to its former state before the terrorist attacks, pledging to build new infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, roads, and the Awasse substation to ensure the expansion of electricity in the region.

Chapo will continue his electoral campaign in Cabo Delgado over the next two days, targeting the province’s 1.4 million registered voters.