President Daniel Chapo inaugurated the new composition of the Council of State on Monday, September 1, in Maputo, highlighting the unprecedented inclusion of all leaders of parties with parliamentary seats as well as the second most voted presidential candidate in the last elections, Venâncio Mondlane, calling it a “dream team.”
“Looking at the quality and profile of the members of this body, if we were in a sports context, we would say that this Council of State is a true dream team, because it is made up of stars from the most varied fields and children of this nation. Therefore, the people have high expectations regarding the performance of this body,” Chapo said after the swearing-in ceremony.
The head of state emphasized that the new configuration of this advisory body “represents another step in consolidating Mozambique’s multiparty democracy, strengthening the democratic rule of law, and deepening national reconciliation,” stressing that “different opinions must coexist harmoniously.”
Mondlane Pledges to “Defend the People”
Making his debut as a member of the Council of State, Venâncio Mondlane stated that his presence is motivated by a mission to “defend the Mozambican people.”
“I took office in the Council of State because I want to defend my people and I will continue to defend my people. That is the only guarantee I can give you. I was born to fight for those who are most disadvantaged,” said the former presidential candidate in a live broadcast on his Facebook account.
Mondlane assured that “no amount of money can corrupt my conscience” and explained that his participation also aims to strengthen his newly created party, Anamola. “We are preparing to win most municipalities in 2028 and, finally, to win the presidency in 2029,” he declared.
Unprecedented Representation
The new members include Albino Forquilha (Podemos), Ossufo Momade (Renamo), and Lutero Simango (MDM)—leaders of the three main opposition parties, selected by Parliament—along with several high-profile figures appointed by the President, including Alberto Chipande, Graça Machel, Eduardo Nihia, and Felizarda Paulino.
The Council also includes the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Margarida Talapa; the Prime Minister, Maria Benvinda Levy; the President of the Constitutional Council, Lúcia Ribeiro; the Ombudsman, Isac Chande; former Presidents Joaquim Chissano, Armando Guebuza, and Filipe Nyusi; and former Parliament presidents such as Eduardo Mulémbwè, Verónica Macamo, and Esperança Bias.
Mondlane, who led the most intense contestation of election results since 1994, marked by violent protests that left about 400 people dead, was accused in July by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of having called for a “revolution” that plunged the country into “chaos.”
Despite this history, the opposition leader accepted joining the Council of State, arguing that the decision “does not mean agreement” but is a necessary step to prepare the political and institutional future of his party.
The Council of State, presided over by the President, is defined by the Constitution as a “political advisory body to the President of the Republic,” whose members benefit from privileges, immunities, and protocol treatment established by law.
Source: Lusa
