Problem of the symbolism of the torch for mozambican unity

Paulo Vilanculo "

In the universal meanings of a torch, the torch illuminates the path of freedom, symbolically guiding the peoples of the world towards freedom and emancipation, gives hope and welcome to a land of opportunities, encourages resistance against oppression, opposing the darkness of tyranny, censorship and injustice, and finally, proposes a universality of human rights, universal values ​​such as freedom of expression, religion and equality. The torch of the Statue of Liberty, for example, is a symbol of the ongoing struggle for freedom, justice and light in a world that is often plunged into the shadows of oppression. It represents the illumination of the world by freedom, being a beacon of hope for immigrants and oppressed people who come to the United States in search of better living conditions. The torch on the Statue of Liberty symbolizes the light of freedom that illuminates the path for all those who seek justice, dignity and a new life.

Mozambique’s “unity flame” torch was intended to symbolize freedom, peace, national cohesion and development, but it ended up representing exactly the opposite for a large part of the population. It seems to be a profanation of historical memory, by invoking the flame of freedom while the State profanely contradicts the founding ideals of freedom by restricting freedom of expression, persecuting opponents and practicing police repression. Ordinary citizens do not feel free to demand transparency, criticize leaders or protest against injustices without suffering reprisals. The tranquility that is propagated is a privilege of the few and for the people, all that is left is fear and daily survival, often marked by political and governmental intolerance. For Mozambicans, freedom, so hard won, has become a decorative concept. This naturalizes the idea that symbols are more important than effective public policies, and that appearance matters more than results.

The torch of the “flame of unity”, a symbol chosen to mark the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of national independence, travelled through the provinces as a patriotic ritual charged with the solemnity of millions of Mozambicans immersed in poverty, in a glow that dazzles more than it illuminates. The torch carried with it an ironic symbolism, as it contrasts with the reality of a people whose most basic rights are violated. This is not about denying the historical milestones of independence, but about demanding that the ideals of the struggle not be buried under empty speeches and symbolic monuments. The memory of a people is not honoured with torches, but with social justice, equal opportunities, dignity and policies that place the human being at the centre of governance. The profane Mozambican gesture of the torch reveals a country that has lost the thread of its historical promise, which is a celebration of shadows in the name of light. In this staging, Mozambique becomes a metaphor that, instead of illuminating the future, casts shadows over the failure to fulfil the promises of 1975.

The Mozambican torch paraded on potholed roads, through neighborhoods without electricity, hospitals without medicine, schools operating under trees, and through towns and neighborhoods lacking electricity, drinking water, and basic services. The government’s insensitivity and deafness to collective suffering were exposed, in a discourse packed with euphoric tones that ignored the desperation of unemployed youth with no prospects, the abandonment of rural areas, the precariousness of public services, and the gap between rich and poor. The State spent resources on parades and symbolic ceremonies, while millions face extreme poverty. This disconnect between the State and the people reveals an alienated policy that lives in a parallel reality. Instead of uniting, the torch sparks concerns and exposes open wounds of an independence hijacked by the worsening of popular suffering.

What conclusions can be drawn from the performance of light in a country plunged into the darkness of poverty and oblivion? Can we speak of peace when insurgent violence continues to sow terror in Cabo Delgado, forcing families to live in permanent displacement and constant fear? Can we imagine the existence of public order when the police forces, instead of protecting, often perpetrate abuses, beatings and summary murders against unarmed citizens? What unity can exist if it fails to acknowledge the pain of the majority? And how can we invoke freedom if opponents are persecuted, journalists silenced and political criticism treated as national treason?

The celebration of symbolic national unity becomes a hypocritical label, where imaginary achievements are applauded and real crises are ignored. The torch of unity that is celebrated seems to be yet another artificial construction, devoid of meaning in the daily lives of the population. The flame, which should inspire unity, hope and justice, is used as a smokescreen to cover up structural flaws. The flame of the torch does not represent the ideals it claims to defend, but rather becomes a metaphor for the fire that consumes the credibility of institutions that have lost moral legitimacy in the eyes of the people. It is a fire of betrayed hope, wielded by those who govern, but ignored by those who suffer. The staging of the torch served to try to lull consciences, a blind protagonism to promote an idea of ​​a nation in peace and progress, a pedagogy of silence, in which patriotism is confused with submission, thus inhibiting the critical spirit of the population. Instead of enlightening, it sparks the debate on the ethical and political failure of the national project.

It was a performance that demands that society wake up and restore the true meaning of the word national unity, as a symbol that represents an abstract and idealized unity that does not welcome active listening and confrontation with differences. Instead of encouraging an environment where Mozambicans can openly discuss their problems, expectations and historical wounds, the government opts for symbolic ceremonies that do not dialogue with the reality experienced by the population. The Mozambican government's choice of a symbol such as the "torch of national unity", to the detriment of organizing debate forums, reveals a tendency towards political superficiality.

It is time to recognize that the suffering of the people is not background noise, but a cry muffled by the rhetoric of a State that is increasingly closed in on itself. If the flame of unity truly wants to be a symbol of hope, it needs to illuminate the truth. The ironic symbolism of the flame of unity must therefore serve as a warning that national unity will only be complete when peace is felt in the body, freedom is exercised in speech, tranquility is experienced in the streets and poverty is eradicated with justice.

2025/12/3