Maputo, July 8, 2026 (Lusa) - Mozambique's president said on Wednesday that political stability and the Inclusive National Dialogue are essential conditions for the country’s development, calling for the building of a national consensus to address the economic and social challenges of the coming decades.
At the opening of the International Conference on Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Mozambique, Daniel Chapo stated that the country is currently undergoing a period marked by the consolidation of a new political cycle, based on deepening the Inclusive National Dialogue and strengthening trust between citizens and institutions.
According to Chapo, the ongoing process should be understood as an instrument of nation-building.
“More than a political process, the inclusive national dialogue represents the affirmation of a new culture of nation-building, based on the participation of all Mozambicans, on mutual listening, on the constant search for consensus and on valuing the contribution of all the driving forces of Mozambican society,” he declared.
The Inclusive National Dialogue process was launched in 2025, following five months of disputes and violent post-election protests that left more than 400 people dead in Mozambique.
In his speech today, Chapo acknowledged that the country’s main challenges require collectively devised solutions. “It is an expression of the conviction that the greatest national challenges find their best solutions when the country sits down to reflect, think and decide together,” he said.
These statements come at a time when public hearings are being held as part of the Inclusive National Dialogue, which aims to draft proposals for state reform, including constitutional revision, the decentralisation of governance, national reconciliation, and the establishment of non-partisan security forces.
At the end of June, the Technical Commission for the Inclusive National Dialogue (COTE) even acknowledged the possibility that the country might move towards a new Constitution and a “new Republic” should the scenario of far-reaching state reform prevail in the ongoing consultations.
According to the chair of Cote, Edson Macuácua, the scenarios under consideration range from adjustments to the current governance model to structural changes, including drafting a new constitution through a constituent assembly.
Today’s conference, held under the theme “From Assessment to Action – Towards the Country’s Integrated Development”, was described by Daniel Chapo as an extension of the approach of dialogue and participation in economic and social development.
“Whilst the inclusive national dialogue seeks to build consensus on political, institutional, economic and social issues that are fundamental to the nation’s future, this conference strategically deepens this reflection on the paths to inclusive and sustainable development,” he maintained.
The meeting aims to assess Mozambique’s development trajectory between 2000 and 2025 and to foster consensus on strategies, reforms and priorities for the coming decades.
During his speech, Chapo highlighted the participation of partners in cooperation, universities, research centres, civil society organisations and the private sector, noting that this broad participation demonstrates a collective interest in shaping the country’s future.
“This broad participation shows that reflection on Mozambique’s future is now understood as a collective and shared responsibility of all Mozambicans,” he said.
Chapo emphasised that responsibility for the country’s development does not lie solely with the Government: “Everyone has an irreplaceable role to play, because no national strategy will succeed unless it is embraced by the whole of society.”
When addressing the relationship between political stability and economic progress, the President reiterated his commitment to inclusive national dialogue as a permanent mechanism for building consensus.
PVJ/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
