Levi is a former presiding judge on the Maputo City Court and was once director of the Legal and Judicial Training Centre (CFJJ), the country’s main training body for jurists. From 2008 to 2015, she served as Justice Minister under President Armando Guebuza. Her most recent position was that of legal adviser to Chapo’s predecessor, Filipe Nyusi.

Chapo only retained one minister from the Nyusi government. He is Defence Minister Cristovao Chume. His re-appointment ensures some continuity in running the war against Islamist terrorists in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.

The new Interior Minister is Paulo Chachine, who holds the rank of First Deputy Police Commissioner.

Chapo appointed a seasoned diplomat, Maria Manuela Lucas, as his Foreign Minister. She has held a range of ambassadorial posts, and was a deputy foreign minister under Nyusi.

The president promoted some deputy ministers from the previous government to full minister. Thus, the former Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, Carla Louveira, becomes Finance Minister, and Inocencio Impissa is promoted from Deputy Minister to Minister of State Administration.

Estevao Pale, a former chairperson of the National Hydrocarbons Company (ENH), becomes the new Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy.

Chapo appointed the chairperson of the Mozambique Stock Exchange, Salim Vala, as the Minister of Planning and Development, and the economist Basilio Muhate as Minister of the Economy. Muhate is a former general secretary of the Mozambique Youth Organisation (OJM), the youth wing of the ruling Frelimo Party.

Americo Muchanga, formerly chairperson of the regulatory body, the National Communications Institute (INCM), and most recently chairperson of Mozambique Airlines (LAM), becomes Minister of Communications and Digital Transformation, a new position in the government structure.

The other half of the old Ministry of Transport and Communications become the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, under Jorge Matlombe, a former Counsellor for Transport in Maputo Municipal Council.

The former general director of the Zambezi Valley Development Agency, Roberto Altino, becomes the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries.

Chapo appointed as Minister of Health Ussene Isse, who is a former National Director of Public Health, and National Director of Medical Care in the Health Ministry.

Contrary to expectations in some quarters, Chapo did not appoint any members of opposition parties to the government. He also did not appoint any heavyweights from his own party, Frelimo. Not a single member of the Frelimo Political Commission is in the government.

One obvious omission is that Chapo has not yet appointed a Minister of Education – although, in terms of the number of people employed this is the largest of all the Ministries.

Chapo’s government is much smaller than Nyusi’s, largely because the posts of Deputy Minister and Secretary of State have been abolished.