President Cyril Ramaphosa called for the intensification of efforts to silence guns on the African continent during his working visit to Mozambique on Thursday, at the invitation of Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi.

“There can be no economic development or social progress where there is conflict when guns are drawn. Instead, we need to strengthen our partnership to pursue our common objectives, which are the promotion peace and security, sustainable economic development as well as regional and continental integration,” Ramaphosa said.

He was accompanied by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Candith Mashego-Dlamini and Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thabang Makwetla.

His visit coincides with the fifty-third commemoration of the assassination of the founding president of the FRELIMO party Dr Eduardo Chivambo Mondlane.

“Dr Eduardo Mondlane was a giant of the Mozambican liberation struggle, a revolutionary pan-Africanist and an unquestionable internationalist who paid the ultimate price for the freedom of his people. Dr Mondlane stood for human dignity, equality, freedom and social justice and he fiercely fought against the racial inequality and oppression upon which colonialism was founded,” he said.

In his capacity as Chair of the South African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Ramaphosa also visited the military troops of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).

He encouraged the continued strengthening of economic relations by enhancing cooperation and increasing trade and investment between the two countries.

Ramaphosa referred to the relations between South Africa and Mozambique as cordial, fraternal, and of a strategic nature. He also said that the working visit would further deepen existing economic, political, cultural and social relations between the two countries.

He also commemorated the unity Mozambicans showed against colonialism which he said was best expressed in the unity of FRELIMO.

He said South Africa would always be grateful for the risk taken by Mozambique in the fight for the freedom of their neighbours.

“Our relationship was a reflection of the personal sacrifices made by the people of Mozambique in their support for South African freedom fighters. The people of Mozambique understood that without the liberation of South Africa there could never be freedom in Southern Africa,” Ramaphosa said.

He also remembered Mondlane’s lifelong commitment to the emancipation of Africans as an inspiration to continue seeking justice and freedom for those who were still oppressed and colonised.

“We must draw inspiration from the life of Dr Mondlane to confront the challenges of underdevelopment, lack of diversity in our economies, slow industrialisation, widespread poverty, youth unemployment, insecurity, climate change and the current Covid-19 pandemic. The solidarity and comradeship between our liberation movements continues to inspire us to work harder for our people in pursuit of our shared vision for the SADC region and the African continent,” he said.