Maputo, July 2, 2026 (Lusa) - Mozambique's former President Armando Guebuza said on Thursday that Africa is experiencing a “human tragedy” resulting from the exploitation of migration due to a lack of employment, pointing out that there is a lack of confidence in African states’ ability to become economic powers.
“Today, the region is experiencing a genuine human challenge, which arises from the exploitation of the growing wave of migration stemming from various factors such as employability, food security and others,” said the former Mozambican head of state at the opening of the 25th annual conference of the Southern African Development Community Lawyers’ Association (SADC-LA), which runs until Friday.
Guebuza called on the SADC Lawyers’ Association to reflect on the “tragedy” of migration across the continent, as well as on the regulatory instruments governing mobility.
Citing the example of the struggle for African independence, Guebuza said that more than 50 years ago there was a determination to achieve freedom, suggesting that it is now time to move forward, collectively, towards the economic independence of African countries, with a view to their development.
“I firmly believe that SADC will become a political and economic power. What stands in the way of this is that we still lack confidence in ourselves, but if we manage to move from colonialism to independence, then let us move on from mere political independence to economic independence, towards development,” said Guebuza.
In the same remarks, he called on lawyers to reflect on the climate change affecting agriculture, noting that the impact of these extreme weather events on the agricultural sector could accelerate the growing rural exodus, potentially increasing urban poverty.
“Governing is not just about devising a plan; it is about understanding what it means in terms of achieving the objectives it sets out to achieve. We need to change the paradigm or perception that legal frameworks are created without concrete results,” said Guebuza, asking the regional association for suggestions on measures that help nations during natural disasters and their aftermath.
Also speaking at the opening of the event, the minister for justice, Mateus Saize, acknowledged that the world was now characterised by profound economic, technological, environmental and geopolitical transformations, with market volatility, climate change, energy challenges, armed conflicts and persistent social inequalities demanding coordinated, innovative and sustainable responses.
He called for the law to serve as a strategic tool to drive development, consolidate peace, strengthen regional integration and create an environment conducive to investment and shared prosperity.
“The legal profession, in particular, plays an irreplaceable role in defending fundamental rights and freedoms, ensuring access to justice and promoting democratic rule of law. A strong, independent legal profession committed to the highest ethical standards is an essential pillar of any rule of law. For this reason, the Government will continue to make every effort to strengthen the institutions of justice,” said the minister.
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