Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo Appoints New PM

January 20, 2025

(3 Minutes Read)

Mozambique’s newly installed President, Daniel Chapo, appointed Maria Benvinda Levi, a former judge and Minister of Justice, to the post of Prime Minister. Only the Minister of National Defence, Cristóvão Chume, was in the outgoing government.

The new government has 12 Ministers, in addition to the Prime Minister. Maria Benvinda Delfina Levi, 55 years old, was born in Maxixe, Inhambane province, has a degree in Law, was the presiding judge of the Judicial Court of the City of Maputo and Minister of Justice from 2008 to 2015. She also was an advisor to the previous President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, until his dismissal on 14 January.

The President of the Republic appointed Cristóvão Chume to the post of Minister of National Defence, taking over the same portfolio as the previous government led by Filipe Nyusi, Paulo Chachine as Minister of the Interior. Maria dos Santos Lucas is appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Carla Alexandra Loveira as Minister of Finance.

The government also includes Inocêncio Impissa as Minister of State Administration and Public Service, Roberto Albino as Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, Salim Valá as Minister of Planning and Development, Estevão Pale as Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, and Basílio Muhate as Minister of Economy.

The first government formed by Daniel Chapo, the fifth President of the Republic of Mozambique, also includes Américo Muchanga as Minister of Communications and Digital Transformation, João Matlombe as Minister of Transport and Logistics, and Ussene Isse as Minister of Health.

The new Mozambican Head of State reduced the number of ministries and eliminated three secretariats of state, merging several sectors and creating new entities.