Roundup: Mozambique's new president Nyusi sworn in, vowing to unit the country, fight against corruption

Filipe Nyusi was sworn in as Mozambique's new president on Thursday in the country's capital city Maputo, vowing to unit the country, fight against corruption, and benefit every citizen during his term.

Nyusi, who will lead the country for the coming five years, was sworn in by the chairman of Mozambique Constitutional Council (MCC) , Hermegildo Gamito, at a ceremony witnessed by thousands of Mozambicans and hundreds of foreign dignitaries at the Independence Square.

In his inauguration speech, Nyusi promised to be the present of all Mozambicans despite of their political preferences, acknowledged that he will be open to every political party for a constructive dialogue, and that he will take into consideration the deeds of the former president to build a much stronger nation.

Nyusi, who became the 4th president since the independence of the southern African country in 1975 thanked all those who voted for him and his ruling Frelimo Party during last general elections in October.

He said that he was prepared to listen to all Mozambicans, strengthen the national unity, independence and peace in Mozambique.

"Under no circumstances brother and sisters should fight each other", said Nyusi, adding that any change should be according to the law and with "maximum responsibility", and "giving priority to inclusion, dialogue and seek consensus for all decisions".

The country had endured a civil war during 1975 to 1992, leaving thousands of deaths and injuries. An agreement on the cessation of hostilities was signed by the ruling Frelimo party and the main opposition, the former rebel movement Renamo last August.

But a climate of tension spread between the two sides since the announcement of the official results of last October's general elections won by the ruling Frelimo party and its presidential candidate Nyusi.

"You can be sure that I will do everything so that between Mozambicans there are no disagreements but the way around," said the new president.

He said he will continue with the dynamism of former president Guebuza in building more infrastructures for the development of the country, investing in education by improving learning system, reducing distance house-school for pupils.

The new government will promote the training of Mozambicans to create job opportunities and will continue investing in traditional sectors such as agriculture, fishing, in order to create wealth to reach inclusive development, according to Nyusi.

"We want Mozambique to continue as a reference as one of the world's countries that continue with positive economic growth," said the president.

The Mozambican population is expected to reach 33 million by 2015. "There is a need to create conditions for those yet to come in the sectors of housing, education and jobs," Nyusi said.

The new president said the future government will have a simple structure focused on promoting justice, working government that will look to reduce cost.

The new government, according to Nyusi, will be announced in the coming days and the president stressed that he expect the cabinet to be intolerant against corruption, and that it will demand simply, efficiency, transparency, impartiality in order to serve better the nation.

Nyusi said that he will cut all overspending offices but added traditional areas of agriculture, transport, tourism, service deliver and agro-industry will be at the center.

The new president said that his government will defend human rights, accountability especially in the extractive industry which should be used for the development and modernization of Mozambique.

The inauguration ceremony comes at a moment when Mozambique is undergoing a flood disaster that is affecting 19,000 families in the central and northern regions of the country, and a food- poisoning tragedy that killed 73 people in Tete province.

Nyusi sent comfort messages saying his government will reinforce the support that is already under provision to mitigate the effects.

The 56-year-old Nyusi is the winner of last October's presidential election by 57 percent.

Both major opposition parties, Renamo and the Mozambique's Democratic Movement (MDM) claimed that the elections were fraudulent.

Nyusi have served as defense minister from 2008 to early 2014, and was elected as the ruling Frelimo's presidential candidate at the end of last February, to replace incumbent president Armando Guebuza.

Born in the northern province of Cabo Delgado which borders with Tanzania, Nyusi joined the then Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) in 1973 when he was only 14 years old, and received politico-military training in Nachingwea guerrilla training center in Tanzania. Endi