Good afternoon. Today’s edition of newspaper Canal de Moçambique reports on the seven vacant ministerial posts that President Daniel Chapo has still not filled. One week after Chapo took office, the ministries of justice, education, public works, labour, veterans, youth and sport, and the president’s office (casa civil) have no political leader. Such a delay is abnormal.
Canal claims that the delay is because Chapo simply does not know whom to appoint, and it further asserts that his inauguration speech was improvised at the last minute. An alternative theory is that the posts are being kept open to allow the possibility of appointing members of the opposition. Until recently, former presidential contender Venâncio Mondlane had been showing signs of being optimistic about the prospect for dialogue, and Chapo himself did not rule out the possibility of Mondlane serving in the government when talking to the BBC recently. But Mondlane himself does not sound very optimistic (see below).
Whichever theory is correct, it is fair to say that the choices Chapo has already made in assembling his government do not suggest that he is full of bright ideas. Commentators have been rather unimpressed by the new ministers, most of whom either lack ministerial experience or technical expertise relevant to their portfolio. The new economy minister, former Bank of Mozambique executive Basílio Muhate, has some things to learn about being a public figure: only a week ago, he posted on X appearing to question whether the musician and convicted sex trafficker R Kelly should be in prison. If those views are common in Chapo’s government, it is not surprising that he has not yet appointed a minister responsible for gender who could stand up for women’s rights. All the new ministers so far have been appointed from the ranks of Frelimo.
Chapo has reorganised government ministries, merging some and creating others, something that will take time, effort and money to implement, but he has not yet explained the rationale for doing so. He has argued that reducing the number of ministries will save money, but the overall number has only decreased by one (three were abolished and two were created). Chapo has yet to explain a vision behind this reorganisation, or for his administration more generally. He did announce some specific measures in his inauguration speech, but nothing that would amount to a big picture of what he wants to achieve.
Chapo, it will be recalled, was selected last year as the presidential candidate of ruling party Frelimo in a compromise between the wishes of his predecessor Filipe Nyusi and Frelimo’s Central Committee. He was nobody’s first choice. His anti-corruption stance risks alienating his party, the main beneficiary of corruption, without necessarily endearing him to the large numbers of people who believe (not without evidence) that Frelimo stole the election and Mondlane is the rightful president. Mondlane and his supporters have not melted away: the more militant protesters are successfully resisting the reintroduction of road tolls, and have also coerced cement suppliers into lowering their prices in line with Mondlane’s demands.
The new president ought to start showing more leadership, if he is to convince his party and, more importantly, a very unhappy country that he deserves to govern.
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From the Zitamar Live Blog:


Agenda:
Today: swearing-in ceremony for provincial governors and meeting with President Daniel Chapo
Today’s headlines:
- Chapo not interested in dialogue, says Mondlane (DW)
- Mozambique seeks more water from Zambia and Zimbabwe for Cahora Bassa dam (Notícias)
- Maputo revives energy-from-waste hopes at Hulene rubbish dump (Lusa, O País)
Chapo not interested in dialogue, says Mondlane (DW)
Former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane has suggested that President Daniel Chapo is not interested in holding talks with him to resolve the political crisis stemming from Mozambique’s disputed elections last year. Mondlane told broadcaster DW that, although Chapo had said that he was open to dialogue, that it was just for show. He added that he had already sent proposals for a dialogue roadmap to Chapo, but received no reaction. On the contrary, Mondlane continued, Chapo was making appointments, including judge counsellors to the Administrative Court, which showed that he was not interested in reforms. Mondlane argued that Chapo seemed to be talking about dialogue in order to buy time while he established himself as head of state.
According to opposition sources speaking to Zitamar News, dialogue between Chapo and the opposition (including Mondlane) could resume soon which, eventually could lead to some political compromise.