September 25th: Between the Memory of Liberation and the Commitment of the Current Generation

Ronélio Zandamela"

September 25th is approaching, a date that holds a special place in Mozambique's history. It is the day we pay homage to the generation that, at a certain point in their youth, decided to dedicate their lives to a greater ideal: the achievement of freedom and national independence. Remembering this generation doesn't just mean remembering the men and women who took up arms. It means remembering people who, in a context marked by colonial domination, oppression, and the absence of freedom, were able to transform indignation into resistance and the desire for freedom into a collective project. During the colonial period, different forms of resistance were adopted by Mozambicans. Some initially sought peaceful and diplomatic means to claim rights and freedom. The Mueda episode, which occurred in 1960 in what was then the province of Cabo Delgado, became one of the most striking examples of this resistance. The demonstration, which expressed the demands of the Mozambican population to the colonial authorities, ended with bloodshed and the death of numerous demonstrators. The Mueda Massacre thus remains one of the painful memories of the struggle against colonial domination. More than a historical event, it represents one of the experiences that helped demonstrate the limits of peaceful means in that context and fueled the awareness that achieving independence would require broader mobilization. Four years later, in 1964, the armed struggle for national liberation began. Men and women, driven by different reasons and circumstances, took on the challenge of fighting for Mozambique's independence. Many left their families, their homes, and their personal plans. Some did not return. Others survived to witness the birth of an independent country. It is precisely here that we must seek the true meaning of September 25th. September 25th is not just a holiday. Over the years, there is a risk of transforming historical dates into mere calendar events. September 25th may be celebrated with official ceremonies, military parades, cultural events, and institutional speeches, while children and young people participate in the commemorations without necessarily understanding the historical and human dimension of the date. But celebrating September 25th shouldn't just mean celebrating a holiday. This date carries a legacy built on selflessness, patriotism, courage, sacrifice, loyalty, discipline, and hope. The independence we know today did not arise spontaneously. It is the result of a historical process in which thousands of Mozambicans took personal risks in the name of a collective project. History records events, dates, names, and places. However, behind these records, there were human beings. There were mothers who saw their children leave, wives who were left without their partners, children who grew up without their parents, and families who endured absence and uncertainty. Therefore, when we speak of the generation of September 25th, we must not only look at the combatants. We must also recognize the families who shared, directly or indirectly, the burden of that sacrifice. From the generation of struggle to the generation of ICT. Yesterday, the challenge for the generation of September 25th was to achieve independence. Today, the challenge of generating information and communication technologies is different, although the historical responsibility remains. The current generation is not necessarily called upon to confront an enemy on a conventional battlefield. It is called upon to defend and strengthen the homeland through knowledge, work, ethics, citizenship, solidarity, and commitment to the common good. The defense of the nation is not the exclusive responsibility of the Armed Forces. It is a collective responsibility. A soldier defends the Fatherland when he fulfills his mission with honor and discipline. A teacher defends the nation when they educate, teach, and shape citizens capable of thinking and contributing to society. A doctor defends the nation when he saves lives and provides healthcare with responsibility and humanity. Farmers defend their country when they produce food and contribute to food security. The entrepreneur defends the nation when he creates jobs, promotes investments, and participates in economic development. Young people defend their country when they respect the law, preserve public property, promote national unity, value peace, reject violence, and respect others. Every profession, when practiced with responsibility and a sense of duty, can constitute a form of service to the Nation. The new battlefields Mozambique's challenges have also changed. Independence remains our greatest legacy, but its preservation requires constant attention. The country faces complex problems, including extremist violence affecting some areas of Cabo Delgado since 2017, drug, arms and human trafficking, kidnappings, corruption, disinformation, intolerance, unemployment, school dropout, malnutrition and other forms of social vulnerability. These phenomena are not equivalent to each other, nor can they be addressed in the same way. However, they have in common the fact that they pose challenges to the security, stability, and development of the country. It is in this context that the meaning of September 25th needs to be updated. If the previous generation confronted colonial domination with the tools at its disposal, the current generation must face its own challenges with the tools of our time: education, knowledge, science, technology, work, civic responsibility, solidarity, and respect for institutions. True homage to those who fought for independence cannot be limited to ceremonies. It must translate into concrete actions in the present. The patriotism of our time should not be confused with slogans. It should manifest itself in the way we treat the country, its institutions, and our fellow citizens. Patriotism is studying when we have the opportunity to study. It's working when we have the opportunity to work. It's about producing when we can produce. It's about protecting the heritage that belongs to everyone. It's about fighting corruption by starting to reject small practices that fuel big problems. It's about respecting differences without turning diversity into a source of conflict. It's about defending peace not just with words, but through our daily actions. Each generation receives a homeland and hands over a homeland to the next generation. It is not required of every citizen to do what the combatants of the liberation struggle did. The context is different. The challenges are different. The tools are different. On September 25th, we must remember with respect the men and women who participated in the national liberation struggle. We must honor the living and the dead combatants and acknowledge the suffering shared by their families. We owe them a significant part of what we are today as a nation. But honoring those who have passed away doesn't just mean looking to the past. It means taking responsibility in the present. The best tribute to the generation that fought for independence is to build a society in which their sacrifices find meaning. May September 25th not be just a date on the calendar. But rather, an opportunity to teach the younger generation that independence has a history, that freedom has a price, and that building a better nation requires participation, responsibility, and commitment.

2025/12/3