Taking a Look at Mozambique

Introduction

Equality is the most common word related with socialism. This does not ensure that socialism can deliver effective equality.

The Mozambican post-independence phase is characterized by a socialist regime and by the intention of providing socialist equality. The underdevelopment situation of Mozambique shaped the idea of equality, which was considered the ultimate reward of the pursuit of development. Therefore the leitmotif of social policy provided by social regime could not be focused on anything else but chasing development.

Equality, socialism and social policy

The Oxford Dictionaries define equality as: “The state of being equal, especially in status, rights, or opportunities” (Oxford Dictionaries, 2013).

Equality has always been a controversial concept, although the majority of philosophers and sociologists have always agreed in underlining its importance.

One of the most important philosophers who disagree with the possibility of equality among all is Aristotle. He believes in the principle of treating like cases alike (Aristotle, 2000). According to his point of view, formal equality is not possible. Moreover Aristotle says that equality, justice and wealth should be based on merit (Aristotle, 1984), which is not included as peculiarity in the common definition of equality.

Opposite understanding about equality is defined by Rousseau. He writes that nobody should “ever be wealthy enough to buy another, and none poor enough to be forced to sell himself” (Rousseau, 1973, I, 1, p.223). According to Rousseau, the formal equality exists among men but only in the state of nature: “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains” (Rousseau, 1973, II, 11, p.181).

However, the idea of equality represents differ...

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... the analysis we can conceptualize it with a syllogism. If socialism is equality and achieving development is Mozambican socialism, then the achievement of development is the achievement of equality.

Thus how effective was the programme of development in Mozambique?

The premises of an across-the-board target of the wellbeing reforms, people participation and gender equality were encouraging starting point towards equality.

However the lack of revolutionary working class and rooting of socialism within the traditional culture made the achieving of development and then the expected equality hard. As Robinson (2003) explains, the failure of equality was clearly demonstrated during the Third Frelimo Congress by the switch from a mass party to a vanguard party with the end of a workers’ control of production and the advent of centralisation of power in state apparatus.