- Government to pay half of the “13th month” in February
By Ricardo Dias
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – Mozambique’s state revenue collection in 2024 amounted to 344.836 billion Meticais, representing 89.9% of the planned target, the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) revealed in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Revenue collection decreased by approximately 2% compared to 2023, as 91.8% of the planned target was achieved in the previous year.
The last quarter of 2024 was marked by protests over the disputed election results, which resulted in the deaths of more than 300 people, destruction of social and economic infrastructure, and the paralysis of many public services and business activities. The Government estimates that revenue losses from the protests exceeded 600 million US dollars.
During the same period, state expenditure totalled 493.356 billion Meticais, representing 86.9% of the annual budget. In 2023, expenditure execution reached 100% of the planned amount.
The protests over the election results have continued into 2025, and according to estimates from the Bank of Mozambique, economic growth in the first quarter is expected to be negative.
The Council of Ministers has approved the payment of 50% of the traditional New Year bonus to employees of the public administration, while state pensioners will receive the full amount. The bonus is usually an extra month’s payment of the basic wage – hence it is commonly known as “the 13th month”.
“This decision reflects the Government's efforts to address the financial constraints arising from reduced revenue collection during the last three months of 2024, as a result of the protests,” said the Government’s spokesperson, the Minister of State Administration, Inocencio Impissa, during a Tuesdaypress conference in Maputo.
Senior state officials will not be entitled to the “13th month” payment, including ministers, members of parliament, provincial governors, secretaries of state, and members of boards of directors of institutions funded by the State Budget.
This move reverses a decision taken by the previous government, under the then President Filipe Nyusi. Just before Christmas, the outgoing Prime Minister, Adriano Maleiane, announced that the government did not have the money to pay the 13th month. This provoked strikes among health workers, and some other sectors of the public administration.
The new government promised to look for mean of paying the bonus, and now all state employees will receive at least 50 per cent of the 13th month. (RD)
