On Saturday, May 17, President of the Republic Daniel Chapo attended the gala dinner marking the 50th anniversary of the Banco de Moçambique, held at the Joaquim Chissano International Conference Center.

In his address, President Chapo reflected on the past, highlighting “the visionary spirit and courage of the men and women who, at a critical time in our history, laid the foundations of our sovereignty and economic independence” in a context marked by “overwhelming challenges, such as crumbling infrastructure, resource scarcity, and an economy in need of reconstruction.”

The Head of State further pointed out that “even in times of great adversity, particularly liquidity crises, external shocks, rampant inflation, among others, these compatriots upheld the technical authority and composure that today allow us to take pride in a strong and respected institution that today celebrates its 50th anniversary.”

“Today, the country enjoys controlled inflation and robust international reserves. Despite numerous challenges, such as floods, cyclones, and COVID-19, the Banco de Moçambique remains resilient,” said President Chapo, also praising the Bank’s achievements in financial inclusion, which he said has now become a reality.

For his part, Governor Rogério Zandamela stated that “this gala dinner marks the high point of the celebrations for the Banco de Moçambique’s 50th anniversary, which we are proudly commemorating today, May 17, 2025, as well as the 45th anniversary of the Metical, our national currency, which we will celebrate on June 16, 2025.”

According to the Governor, the golden jubilee celebrations began on May 17, 2024, with a series of sports, cultural, academic, and scientific events, namely 11 lectures at universities across the country on the central bank’s mandate, two temporary fine arts exhibitions at the Banco de Moçambique Museum, the SADC central banks sports tournament, and the 60th Meeting of the Committee of Central Bank Governors of SADC.

Governor Zandamela also highlighted the international symposium hosted by the Banco de Moçambique, themed “The Credibility of Central Banks and Monetary Policy.” Furthermore, he underscored that the discussions confirmed that credibility is a strategic asset enabling a central bank to shape inflation expectations, promote financial system stability, and enhance the effectiveness and societal impact of monetary policy.

During the gala dinner, the winners of the “50 Years of the Banco de Moçambique Journalism Award” were honored, a competition launched as part of the anniversary celebrations.

As expected, culture also had its place at the event, with outstanding performances led by renowned artists such as Mingas, Moreira Chonguiça, Jimmy Dludlu, and Stewart Sukuma, joined by a new generation represented by singer Onésia.

But the best was yet to come: the performance by the Organizing Committee, whose unexpected dance number stole the show and brought to the stage the President of the Republic alongside former Presidents Joaquim Chissano and Armando Guebuza.

Also in attendance were governors of central banks, representatives of national and international financial institutions, members of the government, members of the Board of Directors, and staff and managers of the Banco de Moçambique.