Mozambique Visit
Mawlana Hazar Imam visits Southern Africa and speaks of the promise of human potential
It is the 20th of November 2007. The air is filled with excitement as hundreds of members of the Jamat from Mozambique, Portugal and around the world, stand along the airport’s balconies, flags in their hands, waiting in anticipation of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s arrival to Maputo, Mozambique for his second visit to Africa since the start of his Golden Jubilee.
Mawlana Hazar Imam received an uproar of applause from the Jamat and others as he landed and was welcomed by Mozambique’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Alcinda Abreu, Vice Minister of Finance, Pedro Couto, Director of Europe and America (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Fernanda Lichale as well as other government dignitaries, and leaders of the Jamat and AKDN agencies. Meeting with leaders of the Jamat, he watched the colourfully-clad traditional welcome dancers before proceeding onto the Ponta Vermelha Presidential Palace to meet with Mozambique’s President, Armando Guebuza and attend the state banquet hosted by the President in his honour.
Here, Mawlana Hazar Imam spoke with optimism about the future of Mozambique, praising it as a valuable model for the developing world. “The problems of poverty, disease, and illiteracy here are still enormous. But your recent progress has been built on sound principles - and, for that reason, Mozambique has become a valuable model for the whole of the developing world. Your growth record is one of the best in Africa – built on neither diamonds nor oil – but on the development of human potential and the consolidation of the democratic processes,” he said in his speech.
Mawlana Hazar Imam commended the leadership role the country played in regional diplomacy. “The contributions of former President Chissano in sensitive regions have been particularly appreciated, of course. Mozambique’s standing as a highly regarded member of the community of nations will enable it to play an increasingly important, strategic role in relations between its neighbours to the south and its neighbours to the north - between the Southern African Development Community and the East African Community,” he said, before going on to explain the achievements of the Aga Khan Development Network in the country and surrounding region.
In his speech, President Guebuza commented that Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit provided “an opportunity to reiterate our joint commitment to proceed with our share in the construction of a world that is characterised by the culture of peace, solidarity, and prosperity.”
During the visit, Mawlana Hazar Imam and President Guebuza unveiled a series of stamps to commemorate the Golden Jubilee. The five stamps portray images of the Maputo Jamatkhana and projects supported by the AKDN in Mozambique. Following the ceremony, Mawlana Hazar Imam hosted a luncheon in honour of President Guebuza before going on to meet with the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Eduardo Mulembwe. “We will do our utmost to ensure that your projects find space to develop,” said Mr Mulembwe after the meeting, assuring Mawlana Hazar Imam of the country’s sincere commitment to support the development mission of the AKDN and the Imamat.
The next morning, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with hundreds of members of the Jamat who had flown in especially for the occasion and had gathered in the once empty premises of the Texlon factory, now splendidly renovated and decorated for the occasion. President Amirali Bhanji of the Ismaili Council for Portugal submitted a loyalty address on behalf of the Mozambique Jamat, who come under its jurisdiction. As he arrived at the hall, Mawlana Hazar Imam took the time to look at a display of paintings and tiles prepared by children of all ages from the Mozambique Jamat.
Mawlana Hazar Imam then travelled to two of the most remote villages of Cabo Delgado in the most northernmost province of the country - and one of the poorest areas of Mozambique - where the Aga Khan Foundation’s Coastal Rural Support Programme implements an integrated rural development programme. The programme combines improved agricultural techniques, education and health initiatives and a microfinance programme. Arriving by helicopter, Mawlana Hazar Imam walked through the village, meeting with village elders and leaders. He paused at the village’s literacy centre where he met a group of young students and their instructor. Mawlana Hazar Imam also spent some time with students and teachers of the village primary school. Thereafter, he walked to the preschool where he spoke with the teacher on the issues facing preschool children. Carrying on from there, Mawlana Hazar Imam flew to Ibo Island where he reviewed income generation activities made possible under the support of the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM). At the renowned Fort Sao João Baptista, he viewed the detailed work of silversmiths, flower artisans, carpenters and agriculturalists.
Following his visit to Mozambique, Mawlana Hazar Imam travelled on to Madagascar.
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