President Daniel Chapo has placed tax reform at the core of his strategy to transform Mozambique and reduce the inequalities that weaken the country. For the Head of State, tax justice is not merely a technical matter; it is the essential condition for funding the hospitals, schools, and infrastructure that the population urgently needs.
From the very outset of his tenure, Daniel Chapo has hammered home his credo: public money must serve the people. By reducing the state’s operating budget—through the elimination of ministries and vice-ministerial posts his government has freed up 17 billion meticais (over 268 million dollars) annually to reinvest in education, health, and infrastructure. This serves as a powerful reminder that every tax paid by citizens directly fuels essential public services.
The President has also announced a freeze on the purchase of official vehicles in order to free up resources for ambulances and other equipment serving the population. This highly symbolic gesture reflects a clear desire to break with the practices of the political elite, who have long been accused of enriching themselves while teachers and doctors struggle to earn a decent living.
To broaden the tax base and reduce dependence on extractive resources, the Chapo government is betting on the digitalization of the economy. The creation of a Ministry of Communication and Digital Transformation is aimed at modernizing public services, while also introducing taxation on digital transactions to ensure fiscal equity.
The fight against tax evasion is also a top priority. The President has pledged to reform the mining sector by using international reference prices for calculating import and export taxes, thereby ensuring that multinational corporations pay their fair share. Concessions on strategic minerals will henceforth be awarded through public tenders, putting an end to opaque practices that had deprived the state of essential revenue.
Beyond these technical reforms, Daniel Chapo is calling for greater civic awareness. He rejects measures proposed by international partners that would worsen the cost of living, insisting on the need to protect the most vulnerable.
For him, tax justice is a pillar of social justice: only a fair tax system can finance development and reduce the glaring inequalities that fuel social tensions in Mozambique. This is an ambitious bet, but perhaps the only path to restoring public trust and building a prosperous future for all.
