THE FIRST LADY'S OFFICE FAIRY GALA FOR ELITE MOZAMBICAN WOMEN

Paulo Vilanculo "

In recent decades, Mozambique has been experiencing a profound social crisis marked by high rates of poverty, unemployment, gender inequality and the vulnerability of rural populations. Women in particular continue to bear the brunt of social exclusion, despite being central agents in family survival, agricultural production and community cohesion. In contrast to this reality, the Office of the First Lady recently held a lavish gala to honor women from the “urban elite”, in a gesture that reignites the debate on the disconnect between the spheres of political power and the grassroots. This analysis aims to problematize the selective nature of the event and discuss its symbolic and political impacts on the struggle for gender equality and social justice in Mozambique. Using theoretical frameworks on social inequality, justice and representation, the article proposes a reflection on the symbolism of this initiative and the risks of reinforcing an elitist narrative to the detriment of social inclusion.

The gala hosted by the First Lady was presented as a symbol of the celebration of Mozambican women, the urban elite, businesswomen, television figures, women from political and social circles, etc. The event was covered in pomp and glamour but with exclusivity and restraint, disregarding the reality experienced by thousands of Mozambican women, especially peasant women, who sustain the informal economy, face extreme poverty and structural marginalization.

The absence of peasant women, informal vendors, and single, hard-working mothers from peripheral neighborhoods reveals not only a representative void, but also the perpetuation of an exclusionary logic of power. The absence of this sensitivity is a sign of an elitist political project that sees empowered women only as those who have achieved success within the mold of urban capitalism. By ignoring this essential segment of the population, the event reveals itself to be a political performance aimed at self-promotion and maintaining an image of success associated with power.

According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), more than 60% of Mozambican women live in rural areas and depend on subsistence farming. These women face multiple obstacles: low levels of education, poor access to health care, domestic violence and institutional marginalization. However, they were not even mentioned in the official speeches at the gala. Events like this reinforce the so-called "selective solidarity", a concept discussed by Nancy Fraser (1997), in which only a privileged group is recognized, while others are silenced. In Mozambique, this dynamic is aggravated by the post-colonial and neoliberal context, where public policies rarely prioritize the real inclusion of poor women.

Although the Office of the Wife of the President of the Republic is responsible for: carrying out initiatives of a social or cultural nature that she decides to develop within the scope of her official powers and other powers that are determined by the Wife of the President of the Republic (Article 18, b, c). Sociologist Silvia Federici (2004) argues that the invisibility of women's reproductive work and their exclusion from prestigious spaces are pillars of gender oppression in modern times. The First Lady, as a symbolic figure of care and national motherhood, could have adopted a more inclusive approach, celebrating the plurality of the female experience in Mozambique. There should be a reflection on how the political elite can include the most vulnerable women in Mozambique and a call to action for the government and other entities promoting social events to rethink their priorities and adopt more inclusive approaches.

It is worth remembering that the First Lady of Mozambique has some ambitious initiatives. For example, the wife of the Head of State intends to create open reception centers for children who need support, especially in localities and districts with specific reception centers. Gueta Chapo guarantees that her office will mobilize resources with partners to create an open reception center to accommodate children with special needs. (AIM, Maputo, 14 Feb 2025).

Amartya Sen (1999) states that development cannot be measured solely by economic indices, but by the increase in real freedoms of individuals. In this sense, celebrating the success of a minority without investing in expanding opportunities for all women is a practice that is antagonistic to social justice. In the Social Crisis of Women in Mozambique, in the context of the socioeconomic situation of women in Mozambique, the focus is on the conditions of peasant, rural and disadvantaged women, who suffer from high levels of poverty and social inequality, looking at peasant women and their role, the role of women in agriculture, with challenges such as lack of resources, access to credit, education and health, as well as social marginalization.

The lack of inclusion of disadvantaged women can be seen in:

• Lack of Representation as Social Injustice: which should focus on the concept of social justice and the need for public policies that favor women in vulnerable situations, instead of events that only reinforce the division between classes.
• Proposals for Real Inclusion: should present good suggestions for public policies for more inclusive events, focusing on visibility and opportunities for women who truly represent the base of Mozambican society and not just those of the educated elite.

Ultimately, the First Lady's Gala represented:

• Social Exclusion and Elitism: the event promoted by the First Lady can be seen as a symbol of elitism and disconnection from the needs of the majority of women.
• Impact on Public Perception: one should understand the public criticism of the event and the reaction of civil society, including feminist movements and social organizations, which may question the absence of peasant women or those in vulnerable situations.

We conclude by stating that theThe gala, promoted by the Office of the First Lady, under the guise of valuing Mozambican women, ends up reinforcing an elitist and exclusionary narrative, oblivious to the harsh reality experienced by millions of women who sustain the country with their invisible work. Instead of being a space for plural recognition, the event has become a showcase of privileges, marked by the absence of the country's true anonymous heroines. It is imperative that public institutions rethink their symbolic and political practices in order to include everyone, especially those who are systematically silenced.

2025/12/3