> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.zitamar.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Chapo wants a leaner, fitter government, but he faces challenges - URL: https://www.zitamar.com/chapo-wants-a-leaner-fitter-government-but-he-faces-challenges/ - Published: 2025-01-24T16:46:29.000Z - Updated: 2025-01-24T16:46:29.000Z - Description: President Daniel Chapo has reorganised his administration in an effort to slim down the government machine. But if his changes are to save money, they will need to succeed where previous attempts have failed - Author: Mariam Umarji - Tags: Daniel Chapo, Government In the first meeting of Mozambique’s new Council of Ministers on Saturday 18 January, President Daniel Chapo told his new cabinet that he expected them to attend meetings on time and to prioritise their attendance at the meetings. He also told them to work with their existing resources and avoid making staffing changes in their departments. It is apparent from this and other signs that Chapo wants to encourage a culture of public service in his government (the instruction not to bring in new staff may well be intended to curb the rampant nepotism and cronyism in Mozambican public administration). Chapo has reorganised the machinery of government in his first presidential decree, abolishing 11 ministries and three state secretariats, and creating nine new ones in their place. This, he claims, will allow the government to save MZN17bn ($268m) on administrative costs, which he wants to redirect to areas like education, healthcare and infrastructure. The president has been repeating the phrase “work differently to achieve different results”, and he clearly wants to send the message that his government will be both leaner and more effective at delivering in the national interest, to combat the perception that his ruling Frelimo party is only interested in enriching its members. Chapo appointed most of his new ministers last week, though six of the positions below remain to be filled. The Prime Minister is Maria Levi. The list of ministers appointed so far, and their portfolios, is as follows: | Ministry | Incorporates function from | Appointed minister | | --------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------ | | Ministry of Finance | Ministry of Economy and Finance | Carla Louveira | | Ministry of Economy | Ministry of Industry and TradeTourism area under former Ministry of Culture and Tourism | Basílio Muhate | | Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries | Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry of Land and EnvironmentMinistry of Water, Inland Waters and Fisheries | Roberto Albino | | Ministry of Transport and Logistics | Transports are under former Ministry of Transport and Communications | João Matlombe | | Ministry of Education and Culture | Ministry of Education and Human DevelopmentState Secretariat for Technical EducationScience and Higher Education areas from former Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher EducationCulture are from former Ministry of Culture and Tourism | To be announced | | Ministry of Labour, Gender and Social Action | Ministry of Labour and Social SecurityMinistry of Gender, Child and Social ProtectionEmployment area from former State Secretariat of Youth and Employment | To be announced | | Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation | Communications area from former Ministry of Transport and CommunicationTechnology area from former Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education | Américo Muchanga | | Ministry of Planning and Development | No details are provided in the Decree. Most likely, functions will come from the former Ministry of Finance and Economy. | Salim Valá | | Ministry of Youth and Sports | State Secretariat for SportsState Secretariat for Youth and Employment | To be announced | | Ministry of Health | No changes. | Ussene Isse | | Ministry of State and Public Administration | No changes. | Inocêncio Impissa | | Ministry of Veterans Affairs | No changes. | To be announced | | Ministry of Public Works, Housing, and Water Resources | No changes | To be announced | | Ministry of the Interior | No changes. | Paulo Chachine | | Ministry of National Defence | No changes. | Cristóvão Chume | | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation | No changes. | Maria Lucas | | Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs | No changes. | To be announced | | Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy | No changes. | Estevão Pale | The reorganisation reduces the number of ministries from 20 to 18 (not counting the president’s office, the *casa civil*, which is also headed by a minister). It eliminates three national state secretariats, while maintaining the provincial state secretaries. However, to end the conflicts and overlap resulting from provincial secretaries and provincial governors both being responsible for administering the provinces, the former are being reduced to an oversight role, with most executive functions being reserved for governors. ### A new era or recycling the past? Although the changes to ministries may look like a fresh start, several of the “new” departments are actually being revived from before the administration of previous president Filipe Nyusi. Despite Chapo’s avowed wish to reduce the cost of government, the overall number of ministries is only being reduced by two. The promised cost savings of around $268m are not going to make a huge difference to the state budget: by comparison, the World Bank is providing $400 million of grant funding to repair one-third of the north-south N1 highway. Nor is it clear where those savings are to come from: redundancies, early retirement, hiring freezes, cuts to overtime and subsidies, or efficiencies in operations or procurement (which is to be streamlined through a new central procurement office). ### Doing more with less Chapo is expecting more from his ministers and from officials, but they will have to deliver better public services while also going through an administrative reorganisation, which may prove disruptive. Past reforms, such as decrees reorganising administrative structures, have faced problems or have never actually been implemented. Chapo’s instruction to ministers to work with the staff they have, and avoid bringing in new staff, may curb nepotism, but it may also restrict their ability to drive change. He has directed ministers to focus on their first 100 days of governance, prioritising public welfare and systemic reforms - but the president himself so far does not seem to have a plan for those first 100 days. There are some clear long term aims, to modernise the country using digital technology and to promote inclusive economic development. The reorganisation of departments reflects this. However, past attempts to drive change by creating new government institutions, such as the secretariats for food security and nutrition and for fighting HIV and AIDS, have been disappointing. Chapo will be hoping that his government, which has to contend with a great deal of political opposition following the disputed and fraud-stained elections, will do better than its predecessors.