Mozambique Admits Need for Reforms in Face of "Social Pressures"

The executive coordinator of the Office for the Coordination of Reforms and Strategic Projects, João Machatine, admitted today, after taking office, the need for state reforms in Mozambique, in the face of "social pressures", to give dignity to the lives of citizens.

"Just look at the demonstrations themselves. It is clear that it is important to meet the demands of the world today (...). We have to introduce reforms to adapt to these realities, to these social pressures, so that people can actually live with dignity", admitted João Machatine, in statements to the media after taking office.

The official stated that the office he will head is of great strategic importance in advising the President of the Republic for a probable renegotiation of megaproject contracts, indicating that the objective is to combine natural and mineral resources with human strength to ensure the development of Mozambique.

"These reforms will have as a corollary the attraction of investments. We want to make Mozambique a pleasant place to invest, so that, based on these investments, we can catapult the desired economic independence", said João Machatine, pointing out that reforms result from new social "dynamics".

Machatine promised to advise Mozambique's President Daniel Chapo to introduce sweeping social and economic reforms aimed at giving dignity to young people, especially in rural areas.

"From the smallest reform that has to do with how the ordinary citizen should pay his water bill to the renegotiation of contracts, including the issue of identity cards. So, we cannot only look at the issue of megaprojects, we must also look at what impacts the everyday life of the ordinary citizen," said Machatine.

Before assuming this position, among other functions, João Machatine was Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources between 2018 and 2022, during the administration of former President of the Republic Filipe Nyusi.

At his inauguration, Mozambican President Daniel Chapo asked the executive coordinator of the Office for the Coordination of Reforms and Strategic Projects for actions and partnerships to accelerate the country's economic and social development.

"This office must be a catalyst for profound changes in our economy and society. We need to change the current reality, rooted in colonial heritage, in which our economy continues to be centered on the export of raw materials and logistics corridors," said Chapo.

Mozambique has been experiencing a climate of strong social unrest since October, with demonstrations and strikes called, first, by former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who rejects the election results of October 9.

Currently, protests, now on a small scale, have been taking place in different parts of the country and, in addition to opposition to the results, people are complaining about the rising cost of living and other social problems.

Since October, at least 327 people have died, including about two dozen minors, and around 750 have been shot during the protests, according to the electoral platform Decide, a non-governmental organization that monitors electoral processes.