He fought against the Portuguese colonial government for his country’s independence. He served for 19 years as the newly independent nation’s second president. And soon, Joaquim Chissano, former president of Mozambique, will visit Detroit to speak at Wayne State.

He will talk at the Community Arts Auditorium on Oct. 20 as part of the Forum on Contemporary Issues in Society’s African Democracy Project. His lecture will focus on Mozambique’s transition from a colonial nation to an independent democracy.

Kevin Deegan-Krause, a Department of political science associate professor who was part of a group of WSU faculty members and 12 students who last year visited Mozambique, said Chissano was instrumental in transforming the country
from one torn by civil war into a modern democracy.

“And then he did something that very few leaders in Africa had ever done – which is maybe the most impressive thing,” Deegan-Krause said. “He also voluntarily left office at the end of his (second) term.”

Chissano was compelled by the Constitution to do so, but Deegan-Krause said that action is uncommon in several parts of the world.

“So by agreeing to follow the law, by going by the principles that he’s been ordained, he’s had an important role to play,” he said.

Zenobia Jeffries, a WSU graduate who was part of the team that traveled to Mozambique and is Managing Editor of The Michigan Citizen, said Chissano has been able to maintain his grassroots connections while reaching across the status quo so his country can progress.

“I do realize that there is a long way to go … but Chissano’s peaceful demeanor and ability to negotiate has been most effective in moving the country forward,” she said in an e-mail interview.

Jeffries also said WSU could benefit from Chissano’s visit because his lecture would show “that the people of Mozambique are no different that the people of the United States. They want the same things we want: education, jobs, a comfortable place to live, to be able to feed and clothe their families, justice … and last but not least (sic) love and respect.”

Veronica Topolewski, a current WSU grad student who also traveled to Mozambique, said people of all backgrounds in the university’s community could learn from Chissano.

“President Chissano proved to be a leader with a lot of impact in Mozambique. … So I really think everyone can learn from his leadership, regardless of the fact that we’re on a different continent,” she said.

Topolewski also said although it had a strong leader in Chissano, Mozambique still has issues to correct in its political and educational systems. However, she said she is optimistic about its future.

According to a WSU press release, Chissano will focus on his experiences as a freedom fighter and last year’s visit by the group from WSU. Part of a documentary the students filmed is planned to be shown, the release read.