- CIP director criticises appointments as a heavy financial burden on the state's budget
By Ricardo Dias
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – President Daniel Chapo appointed seven more Secretaries of State on Tuesday, sparking criticism that he is building an excessively large government.
Chapo appointed Amílcar Tivane as Secretary of State for the Treasury and Budget, Gustavo Djedje as Secretary of State for Land and Environment, and Jorge Daudo as Secretary of State for Mining.
The Head of State also appointed Edson Macuácua as Secretary of State for Science and Higher Education, the same area where he previously served as Deputy Minister in the previous administration. Leo Jamal was appointed Secretary of State for Technical and Vocational Education, Emília Araújo Secretary of State for Youth, and Abdul Razak Esmail Secretary of State for Gender and Social Action.
The appointments come two weeks after five other officials were appointed at the same level, suggesting that more appointments may be on the way.
Edson Cortez, director of the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), a governance watchdog, criticised the appointments, recalling that the president had promised to downsize the government to reduce expenses on officials' privileges.
"They have merely changed the titles. Under Nyusi's government, they were called Deputy Ministers; now, under Chapo, they are Secretaries of State. It's just more of the same," Cortez criticised, alleging that the appointments aim to accommodate members of Frelimo.
In his inauguration speech, Daniel Chapo stated that his government would redefine the role of Secretaries of State, granting them clear responsibilities and placing them under the direct authority of ministers.
So far, Chapo has appointed a total of 12 Secretaries of State working in 18 ministries, indicating that he may appoint up to six more.
"They said this would be a government without Deputy Ministers, yet it is full of Secretaries of State," Cortez remarked, warning about the financial impact of these appointments on public finances. (RD)
