“I will speak to the devil, if necessary” to end the war in Cabo Delgado - Presidential candidate

MONTEPUEZ, Mozambique

The leader and presidential candidate of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), Lutero Simango, has promised that, if he wins the election on 9 October, he will do all in his power to end the war in the northern province of Cabo Delgado – including “talking with the Devil, if necessary”.

Simango, cited in the independent daily “O Pais”, was speaking on Tuesday at a rally in the village of Mararange, in the Cabo Delgado district of Montepuez. He told his audience that, if they wanted more drinking water, good quality schools and hospitals where medicines are available, then they should vote for him and for the MDM in the general elections.

But his main concern was to end the terrorist violence that has scarred parts of Cabo Delgado since 2017.

Clearly he believed the war could be ended through negotiation. “If necessary, I shall sit down with the Devil to do away with terrorism”, said Simango. “This is not a land of suffering. Young people need peace. We shall bring this peace”.

He also promised to create jobs through industrialization. In particular, he promised to build graphite processing factories in Montepuez. Cabo Delgado has some of the largest known graphite deposits in the world, and Simango insisted that this mineral must be processed before it is exported.

The MDM is also committed to installing timber processing factories. “Our wood should be processed here”, Simango said. “That is what will employ more young people”.

He also promised that a future MDM government will improve the roads between the provincial capitals and the administrative posts. Simango is making a point of visiting the districts and administrative posts by road, rather than by plane or helicopter.

“With Lutero Simango and the MDM, things are going to change”, he promise. “Young people, you can trust us. We have the solution to your problems”.