When will the Friends of Mozambique Association be launched?

Alberto Mudjadjo"

In Mozambique, as in other countries, friendship associations can vary widely in terms of their objectives and activities. Some associations are formed to promote friendship and social interaction among members, while others focus on specific activities, such as cultural, sporting or philanthropic events. The following friendship associations can be found in Mozambique: social and recreational associations; sports associations; cultural associations; associations of business friends; environmental associations; etc. These associations aim to develop friendships; they promote a variety of events that can enrich the social life of their members; in some associations, members have the opportunity to develop their skills and talents through volunteering, courses and projects; they contribute to the strengthening of the community by promoting a spirit of solidarity, cooperation and mutual support; they can help change the world by contributing to improving the lives of the most needy people. Recently, we have seen the emergence of associations that denounce regionalism, tribalism, etc. I am referring to the associations of Friends of Maputo, Zambézia, Nampula, etc. And the question that remains is: when will we have the Association of Friends of Mozambique? Where the objective is to unite the entire country, that is, to strengthen Mozambican identity, not just the parts of Mozambique. Perhaps strengthening the parts as a first phase and then reaching Mozambique as a whole. This question arises because the main objective of all Mozambicans is to live together in harmony, but this necessarily involves social cohesion, that is, the degree to which people feel connected and share a sense of belonging to society. This is fundamental to the development of a stable, fair and prosperous society. It positively influences several aspects, from trust in institutions to security and economic development. Social cohesion is very important because it offers us greater stability and security, since a cohesive society is more resilient to crises and conflicts, as people tend to support each other and work together to overcome adversity; greater economic development, because a cohesive society is more likely to promote economic growth, as collaboration and mutual support between citizens and businesses can facilitate investment and innovation; reduction of inequality and marginalization, social cohesion promotes inclusion and respect for the rights of all citizens, which helps to combat inequality and marginalization; improved health and well-being, social cohesion is associated with lower levels of stress and greater physical and mental well-being. In short, social cohesion is an essential element for building a fair, prosperous and safe society, and its promotion requires a joint effort from all citizens, institutions and local and national authorities. In this wave of ideas, we need to give up associations of small groups of friends and instead form associations of friends of Mozambique in general, because the lack of this unity leads to several negative consequences, including the erosion of social trust. The lack of unity among the elements that make up the Mozambican state leads to a decrease in trust among members of society, making them more suspicious of each other and less willing to collaborate. Increased violence and conflicts. It is clear that the absence of mechanisms for peaceful conflict resolution and a sense of belonging can result in an increase in violence, both individual and collective. Decreased social participation. When the population feels distant and disconnected from society, participation in social and political activities tends to decrease, which weakens democracy and development. Lower investment in human capital. Low social cohesion can lead to lower investment in education and health, as the government and society in general may not have the same priority in investing in sectors that benefit all individuals. Social inequality, the lack of unity among Mozambicans can worsen social inequality, as people in marginalized groups may be less heard and have fewer opportunities for progress; Difficulty in facing common challenges, the absence of a united and indivisible people makes it difficult to cooperate to face crises, natural disasters or economic problems; Increased political polarization, the lack of consensus and dialogue can lead to political polarization, making it more difficult to find solutions to society's problems; Social fragmentation, this disunity can lead to the fragmentation of society into even smaller groups, with less capacity to communicate and understand each other.Sometimes the scarcity or insufficiency of these elements presented here leads to violence as a form of relief in the face of these problems. With these facts, it is clear that there is a need to create mechanisms for the union of the various peoples that make up this beautiful Mozambique, making good use of the cultural diversity that it provides us for social well-being, so that we can live together in harmony, strengthening social cohesion, starting from the idea of “replacement” or greater focus on the creation of an association that encompasses all Mozambicans and not several associations that contribute to the fragmentation of the Mozambican social fabric.

2025/12/3