Antonio Munguambe
Encyclopedia
Antonio Francisco Munguambe is a Mozambican
politician.
Munguambe served as Deputy Minister of Trade in the early 1990s,
and was appointed as Minister of Transport and Communication by President Armando Guebuza
on February 3, 2005, when Guebuza named his new government shortly after taking office.
He was removed from office (along with foreign minister Alcinda Abreu
and justice minister Esperança Machavela
) on March 10, 2008, and was succeeded by Paulo Zucula
, the former director of Mozambique's National Disasters Management Institute
.
Although Guebuza offered no official reason for Munguambe's dismissal from office,
various news reports suggested
that it was tied to the transportation-related riots in Maputo
in February that caused between four
and six deaths.
The riots were sparked by increases of up to 50 percent in the fare
s for the chapas (privately-owned minibus taxis)
that account for a significant portion of the capital's passenger transport. According to the Mozambique Workers' Organization, the country's largest national trade union centre, Mozambican workers spend an average of 35 percent of their income on transportation.
The hike was negotiated by Munguambe and the Federation of Road Transport Associations following an increase in the fuel costs (the government raised the price of diesel by 14 percent on January 23).
After the outbreak of rioting on February 5, Munguambe declared that "[t]he increase is fair and also the complaints by commuters are fair", and promised to renegotiate with transport operators. On February 6, the government rescinded the fares increase,
and in exchange promised to provide fuel subsidies to licensed transport operators, so that they could in effect purchase diesel at the price prior to January 23 (31.0 meticais
per litre, as opposed to 35.35 per litre).
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
politician.
Munguambe served as Deputy Minister of Trade in the early 1990s,
and was appointed as Minister of Transport and Communication by President Armando Guebuza
Armando Guebuza
Armando Emílio Guebuza is a Mozambican politician and the President of Mozambique since 2005.- Career :Armando Emílio Guebuza was born in 20 January 1943 in Portuguese East Africa...
on February 3, 2005, when Guebuza named his new government shortly after taking office.
He was removed from office (along with foreign minister Alcinda Abreu
Alcinda Abreu
Alcinda António de Abreu is a political figure in Mozambique. She was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2008 and is currently Minister of the Environment....
and justice minister Esperança Machavela
Esperança Machavela
Esperança Machavela is a Mozambican jurist and politician.Machavela was appointed as Minister of Justice by President Armando Guebuza on February 11, 2005, when Guebuza named his new government shortly after taking office....
) on March 10, 2008, and was succeeded by Paulo Zucula
Paulo Zucula
Paulo Zucula is a Mozambican politician and Mozambique's Minister of Transportation and Communication since March 2008.-Early life:...
, the former director of Mozambique's National Disasters Management Institute
National Disasters Management Institute
The National Disasters Management Institute is the disaster relief agency of Mozambique.-History:The INGC was formed in 1999by Government decree no...
.
Although Guebuza offered no official reason for Munguambe's dismissal from office,
various news reports suggested
that it was tied to the transportation-related riots in Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
in February that caused between four
and six deaths.
The riots were sparked by increases of up to 50 percent in the fare
Fare
A fare is the fee paid by a passenger allowing him or her to make use of a public transport system: rail, bus, taxi, etc. In the case of air transport, the term airfare is often used.-Uses:...
s for the chapas (privately-owned minibus taxis)
that account for a significant portion of the capital's passenger transport. According to the Mozambique Workers' Organization, the country's largest national trade union centre, Mozambican workers spend an average of 35 percent of their income on transportation.
The hike was negotiated by Munguambe and the Federation of Road Transport Associations following an increase in the fuel costs (the government raised the price of diesel by 14 percent on January 23).
After the outbreak of rioting on February 5, Munguambe declared that "[t]he increase is fair and also the complaints by commuters are fair", and promised to renegotiate with transport operators. On February 6, the government rescinded the fares increase,
and in exchange promised to provide fuel subsidies to licensed transport operators, so that they could in effect purchase diesel at the price prior to January 23 (31.0 meticais
Mozambican metical
The metical is the currency of Mozambique, abbreviated with the symbol MZN or MTn. It is nominally divided into 100 centavos.-First metical :...
per litre, as opposed to 35.35 per litre).