Mozambican President Daniel Chapo on Tuesday swore in six more ministers to join the cabinet already in office.
Pending is the Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs.
Among those swore in is one Ricardo Sengo, who has already nicknamed Mozambique’s Elon Musk by some secitions of the media. A manager and businessman, Sengo has been appointed Minister in the Presidency for Civilian Affairs.
Born in Massinga, in the southern province of Inhambane, Sengo holds three master’s degrees in economy, finances and management.
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Sengo’s portfolio is akin to that of a chief of staff ensuring the smooth running of the presidency. Most importantly, Sengo will manage the finances of the Office of the President. This is where things can get a bit murky: a decree gazetted in December 2022 regulating public procurement in the country gives the Office of the Presidency discretionary power to directly award public sector tenders, meaning that he can award contracts to whomever he wishes to.
This direct contracting regime has been criticised for undermining transparency and increasing the risk of corruption. However, the Ministry of Economy and Finance argued at the time that the direct contracting regime will ensure that the Presidency could quickly award contracts without being untrammeled by a long selection process.
Sengo would be used to direct contracting as the company he co-founded MECTS (Mozambique Electronic Cargo Tracking Services) has been growing by leaps and bounds thanks to direct contracting. Perhaps, his proximity to the family of Alberto Chipande, a veteran of the liberation struggle and the patriarchy of the Makonde ethnic group which gobbled up the most lucrative business opportunities during former President Filipe Nyusi’s reign, might have helped – Sengo is married to Chipande wife’s niece.
In the past, public tenders have been manipulated to favour a particular company or businessman either because they are linked to the ruling Frelimo party or because they are friends and relatives. After all, Sengo would entitled to do so, as he both used his own funds and raised additional funds for Chapo’s campaign.
One thing the journalists who nicknamed Sengo Mozambique’s Elon Musk did not mention, is that Musk bought his way into Donald Trump’s inner sanctum and government. What is to stop Sengo from awarding fat contracts to his to his businesses or business cronies?
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