Apolinário Matlhombe
The warning signs were there. If Mozambique’s Constitutional Council validated the results of the 9 October 2024 general elections, a wave of unrest was expected. That’s exactly what happened on Monday, 23 December, when the results were confirmed.
Violent protests erupted across the country, but nowhere was the destruction more severe than in Namacurra district, Zambézia Province. Within 48 hours, nearly every government building in the district had been destroyed. Officials were forced to flee.
Among the damaged buildings were the district headquarters, the administrator’s official residence, public service offices, the court, registry and notary offices, and even the local National Criminal Investigation Service. Only the district police headquarters and health department remained untouched — but they, too, were under threat.
Amid the chaos, concern quickly turned to schools. Would they be the next targets?
That’s when young people stepped up. The “Youth Awareness Call”, an initiative led by Kuyenda Collective activists in Namacurra, was launched to stop the violence and protect community resources — especially schools.
Quitério Diogo, 32, local leader of the Kuyenda activists, explained that many of the acts of destruction were carried out by young people. “So, we focused on engaging those same youth — raising awareness about the importance of valuing and protecting what belongs to the community,” he said.
To do this, Kuyenda partnered with the Wakelana Association, the District Education Service, and local businesspeople. Sport — particularly football — became their tool for peacebuilding.
Working with school leaders and neighbourhood heads, they helped form 14 local youth teams. These clubs competed in a football tournament held from 15 to 30 January 2025.
It wasn’t just about the game. Each match became a moment of reflection and unity. Crowds came not only to cheer but to listen. Kuyenda activists used the platform to speak about peace, reconciliation, and the value of education. After weeks of violence, the tournament brought the first true moments of safety and celebration.
Within two weeks, Namacurra felt safe again. Even Administrator Moura Xavier, who had fled during the unrest, returned to witness the tournament’s closing ceremony. In his first public address since the crisis, he praised the initiative and the Kuyenda Collective for their role in restoring calm.
Held just before the start of the 2025 school year, the event also served to rally the community around education. Leaders and activists urged parents to send their children back to school — and to see education not just as a right, but as a tool for lasting peace.
Published during Global Action Week for Education, under the theme “Education in Emergencies”, this story is a powerful reminder: education can do more than teach — it can heal. In a time of uncertainty, young activists in Namacurra showed that even in crisis, there is a way forward.
This story also reflects the mission of CESC and the Kuyenda Collective: to build civic partnerships, strengthen community voices, and promote critical thinking about education systems. Kuyenda is implemented in Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.