Recently in Maputo, Mozambique

THE serene and quiet atmosphere that engulfs the Maputo International Airport does not reflect the actual hustle and bustle of Mozambique.
Less than three kilometers from the airport, vendors selling different fruits and clothes in the traffic congested city of Maputo confront the visitor, defying the airport atmosphere.
The congestion is so much, owing to the coast that the Mozambicans have, which makes it a hub of ex-Japanese cars.
Oblivious of the fact that they had an impending independence ceremony, carefree drivers ignored the Zimbabwean motorcade as the Mozambican police failed to control the traffic jam.
The chaos matches the old and dilapidated infrastructure, with discoloured buildings all over.
This is because the cities took in a large number of refugees from the countryside during the RENAMO civil war.
To cope with that sudden population increase, squatter camps have mushroomed.
The Government tried to combat this problem by building low-cost apartments, but they have been unable to keep up with the growing population which stands at about 20 million.
RENAMO waged a 16-year-war against FRELIMO (the ruling party) before signing a peace deal in 1992, and ended a renewed low-level insurgency just weeks ahead of their 2014 election.
Bright colours, red and yellow that appear only on tuckshops which have advertisements, provide a bit of colour to the generally, dirty and dull townships.
Yet, Mozambique is described as having the fastest growing economy and greener pastures for Africans across the continent.
Around 70 percent of Mozambicans live in rural areas, where the majority eke a living from subsistence farming.
Mozambique, which recently celebrated its 40th independence anniversary from Portugal, depends on donor aid which seems not to have benefitted the general populace as most Mozambicans live on US$2 or less per day.
However, they seemed not bothered as they celebrated their ‘independence’ with song and dance last week.
Prior to the independence celebrations which were held at Machava Stadium in Maputo, dignitaries visited the shrine where their liberation icon, Samora Machel and other liberation heroes of Mozambique are interred.
In Zimbabwe, Samora Machel Avenue was named after the iconic nationalist in 1980.
Before independence it was called Jameson Avenue.
President Mugabe who was among the dignitaries in Maputo at the celebrations said the independence of Mozambique catapulted the independence of most Southern African countries.
“The freedom of Mozambique meant that we now had a country next to us which we could use as a launching pad for our own revolution,” said President Mugabe.
“But of course we commemorate it also with some sadness that those we worked with the great ones, Eduardo Mondlane, Samora Machel, are no longer with us and this is their legacy and their legacy which produced other revolutionary legacies.”
A dedicated military man and socialist revolutionary, Samora Moises Machel (1933-1986) presided over the independence of Mozambique from Portugal in 1975 and became its first President.
Filipe Nyusi the Mozambican President was emotional as he reminisced the day that Samora Machel proclaimed independence 40 years ago to a wild applause.
“It is in this stadium, with emotionally charged words, that (independence leader) Samora Machel proclaimed national independence,” he said.
“As we did 40 years ago, today we cry loudly ‘down with divisions!’.”
RENAMO leader Afonso Dhlakama boycotted the celebrations which were marked by pomp, fan and fare with Timbila (mbira) and the Xingomama dance which is common in Maputo enhancing the celebrations.
Military parades, displays and the arrival of the ‘flame of unity’, a torch symbolising togetherness spiced up the day.
Presidents Peter Mutharika (Malawi), Hage Geingob (Namibia), Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania), Edgar Lungu (Zambia) and other revolutionary fathers such as Benjamin Mkapa and Hifikepunye Pohamba spoke volumes of the peace, support and stability that the Southern African community enjoys.
On June 29 2015, four days after independence celebrations, Mozambique decriminalised homosexuality when a new penal code came into force that swept way old Portuguese colonial laws.
Samora Machel must be turning in his grave because those who are supposed to be the custodians of the revolutionary legacy and values have given in to the Western decadency.
Mozambique is among the few African countries which receive a significant portion of their budgets from donor funding.
About 34 percent of Mozambique’s 2014 budget was donor-funded.
Mozambique is on the southeastern coast of Africa, and shares borders with Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia; Zimbabwe, South Africa and Swaziland and the Mozambique Channel to the east.
For the last two years, Mozambique has been the second most preferred destination for FDI in Africa.
However, that economic growth has not yet translated to poverty reduction as the majority of Mozambicans are still so poor.