Reshuffle: 2 respected technocrats promoted – By Joseph Hanlon

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Reshuffle: 2 respected technocrats promoted – By Joseph Hanlon

8:43 CAT | 13 Dec 2017

File photo / President Filipe Nyusi

In his first post-Congress reshuffle, President Filipe Nyusi today (13 Dec) promoted two highly praised technicians to key posts.

Max Tonela takes the key post of Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, a sector that provides much of government revenue and where key negotiations on the gas fields are required in soon. He had been Minister of Industry and Trade, and before that was a highly respected financial director of the state electricity company, EDM, and member of the Board of Directors of Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB). He replaces Leticia Klemens, who was only appointed to the job in October 2016 without any prior government experience.

Higino Marrule‘s appointment as Agriculture Minister has won high praise. He is an agronomist with an MSc in agro-economy and development, but with hands-on experience. As a director in the NGO TechnoServe he was important in the successful promotion of small scale commercial chicken production in Mozambique. One knowledgeable agricultural researcher predicted “more openness to discussion and ideas from others [and] more focus on research.” Another said “in my view could not be a better choice. He is highly respected and it is good to see someone appointed to the portfolio without any obvious Frelimo baggage.” The respect for Marrule will make his first task easier – sorting out the competing fiefdoms within the ministry and trying to develop a coherent agricultural strategy. He will also need to build cooperation with Celso Correia, Minister of Land, Environment and Rural Development, who has taken the lead on key farm issues.

Marrule replaces Jose Pacheco who has been in government since 1995. He was seen as close to former President Armando Guebuza, and lost substantial power at the Frelimo Congress in September, when he lost his place on the Frelimo Political Commission and as head of the Verification Commission, the Frelimo disciplinary body. In recent years he had spent more of his time on party and general government matters and little on agriculture.

Pacheco becomes Foreign and Cooperation Minister, replacing Oldemiro Baloi who had been in government on and off for nearly 30 years. Baloi’s star had also been falling, and he lost his place on the Frelimo Central Committee at the party Congress.

By Joseph Hanlon

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Source: News reports & clippings