The program “Batidas”, on TV Sucesso, promoted a heated debate between two young Mozambicans with divergent perspectives on the situation of youth in the country. The meeting included the participation of journalist and social activist Clemente Carlos and Narciso Paulo, and had as its central theme “Youth and the Tendency towards Sycophancy”.
Start of the Debate
The debate began intensely, with Clemente Carlos making a provocative statement. Carlos asserted that the debate wasn't between young people, but between a young man and an "old man." According to him, this definition of "old man" was inspired by the vision of the revolutionary Che Guevara, who, according to Carlos, said that being young and not being revolutionary was a genetic contradiction. Carlos used this provocation to challenge Narciso Paulo, suggesting that if he wasn't revolutionary in his generation, he wasn't fulfilling his role as a young person.
Clemente Carlos's Perspective
Clemente Carlos, responding to a question from presenter Puto Aires about the emotional state of young people, described the situation as a "heart attack." According to Carlos, many young people are frustrated due to the high unemployment rate and frequently turn to him for help finding jobs, sending photos and texts so he can share them on his social networks and increase the reach of their requests.
Narciso Paulo's reply
Narciso Paulo countered Clemente Carlos's position, arguing that frustration is not a characteristic of young people in general, but rather of some activists. Paulo stated that many activists are frustrating young people instead of helping them. He criticized the tendency to blame others for one's own failures and stressed that social media is not an accurate reflection of the situation of youth. According to Paulo, it is necessary to establish clear criteria to define who is a social activist and the appropriate way to gauge the pulse of young people.
Perspective on Lambe-Botismo
The theme of the debate, "Youth and the Tendency towards Sycophancy," generated discussions about the role of young people and the influence of public figures on social issues. Clemente Carlos argued that the fear inherited from the colonial period still persists, comparing current politicians to the "whites" of the past. He cited the recent increase in internet tariffs as an example of this lack of influence.
