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Pio Matos skips opening of the judicial year
2:23 CAT | 06 Feb 2020
Picture: Sala da Paz / Diário da Zambézia
- “I didn’t attend, on my own will,” said Pio Matos, in exclusive interview with Diário da Zambézia
The Governor of Zambezia Province, Pio Augusto Matos, just became the most prominent figure at a public ceremony he neither attended nor sent a representative to. This was the opening of the judicial year, which took place in all provinces on Tuesday ( January 4).
Everyone wanted to know the reason for his unannounced absence, which left his chair empty on the podium.
Like Zambézia Governor Pio Matos, Quelimane mayor Manuel de Araújo was not present, despite being invited. The Secretary of State, Judith Mussácula Faria – the “Mutiyana Worera” – did attend. She was actually the one who had the real powers at the event, as may be gleaned from the event programme, which Diario da Zambéxia has seen.
As seats in the podium started to fill, murmurs about the room increased. Those present felt that someone was missing, since the seat right next to the Secretary of State was unoccupied. It was that of Governor Pio Matos, who did not even want to know about the very first ceremony in his governance.
Secretary of State without (many) comments
As this is not normal, Diário da Zambézia asked the Secretary of State in Zambezia Province, Judith Faria, about her colleague’s absence.
In her response, short and cold, the Secretary of State said that the question should be addressed to the organisers of the ceremony – in this case, the judiciary – and ended the conversation.
President Judge says all is well
But the President Judge of the Judicial Court of the Province of Zambézia (TJPZ), Paulo Cinco Reis, made little of the governor’s absence. Asked him about the episode, Cinco Reis said: “I have nothing to say … it is a process and there is probably something.”
He then tried to “pour oil on troubled waters” with arguments that these two figures [elected provincial governor and appointed secretary of state] were recently created, ending: “There is nothing unusual – all is well.”
“The State was there …”
In an exclusive interview with Diário da Zambézia, Pio Matos spoke via telephone on the subject, which had immediately started trending on social networks.
But the Governor of Zambézia was unrepentant, saying “I didn’t go … it is normal”. “The State was well represented by the Secretary of State,” he added.
DZ has meanwhile established that the governor was in Nicoadala pursuing his normal work schedule. This reportedly gave rise to some debate, since it is well known that Matos is one of those cadres within Frelimo who does not let himself get carried away, and when it comes to clarifying misunderstandings, he does so – even if it hurts someone.
By Ernesta Missage
Source: Diário da Zambézia
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