- Government members reduced from 20 to 18, which seems insufficient given the promises to contain public expenditure
- President asks members of his government to break with the past
By Aurélio Muianga and Ricardo Dias
Maputo (MOZTIMES)—In his inaugural speech, President Daniel Chapo promised to slim down the government's heavy structure to reduce expenditures on political leaders and channel the money saved to the social sectors. But in his first practical action, Chapo was timid. The government reorganisation he announced reduced the number of ministries from 20 to 18.
Figure 1
Comparison of the number of ministries in the governments of Filipe Nyusi and Daniel Chapo
The first Presidential Decree of Daniel Chapo (1/2025, of 16 January), issued on his first working day after taking office, abolished 10 Ministries and three State Secretariats and … created nine new ministries.
There was an error in the presidential decree. Article 1 of the Presidential Decree abolishes 10 ministries, but, in reality, it should have been 11. This means that Daniel Chapo forgot to abolish the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action (MGCAS). Article 3 of the same decree stipulates that the responsibilities, competencies, human resources, materials, and finances of the MGCAS are to be transferred to the Ministry of Labour, Gender and Social Action. Therefore, it is highly likely that the President will have to issue a new Presidential Decree to formally abolish the MGCAS or republish the same decree with the omission of the MGCAS's abolition corrected.
During his inaugural speech, Daniel Chapo promised to significantly reduce the size of the Government to economise on public resources. He estimated that the changes would lead to savings of 17 billion meticais a year, which would be redirected to priority areas such as education, health, agriculture, water, and roads.
“We shall reduce the size of the Government, beginning with the elimination of Ministries and State Secretariats equivalent to ministries. This exercise will mean considerable savings, which will be used where they really matter, to improve the lives of our people”, declared Chapo.
Chapo also announced the abolition of the post of Deputy Minister, arguing that a smaller government would be more agile and efficient.
The abolition of the State Secretariats was the main noteworthy change brought by Chapo’s first presidential decree. But the Secretaries of State, like the Deputy Ministers, were never members of the Government.
The Mozambican Constitution defines as members of the Government, which is equivalent to members of the Council of Ministers, the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and the Ministers. The Deputy Ministers and the Secretaries of State “may be invited to participate in meetings of the Council of Ministers”, states the Constitution.
In these terms, the government's reorganisation only concerns Ministers. President Daniel Chapo has eliminated only two ministries compared with the previous government of Filipe Nyusi (see Figure 1).
Break with the past
Chapo’s Government was sworn into office on Saturday (18 January) and in his speech on this occasion the President demanded a break with the past. “Always bear in mind that the time of lethargy, of excessive red tape, of nepotism, of boot-licking, of corruption and other evils should be dead, burnt and buried”, declared the President, stressing “you cannot transport vices of the past to this new stage which we expect to be triumphant, and the People are waiting for us”.
Over this week, Daniel Chapo could announce more members of his government, and there are expectations of the possible appointment of figures from outside Frelimo. So far all those appointed to ministerial positions are members of the ruling party. (AM/RD)
