Is Massano the new "Jack-of-all-trades"?.
The late President José Eduardo dos Santos had in General Hélder Vieira Dias "Kopelipa", Minister of State and head of the Military House, his "jack of all trades".
It was to General "Kopelipa" that President JES delegated the tasks he did not want to do, due to laziness or lack of time. It was in General "Passo em Corrida", a pseudonym he gained because of the speed with which he moved, that JES entrusted the coordination of almost all the commissions and working groups.
Taken as an all-rounder, Kopelipa was a jack of all JES's work. However, in spite of the immense powers he had, which made him, in fact, the second figure of the State; From his recognized mental versatility and dedication to the many and distinct challenges entrusted to him, General Kopelipa never ceased to be a normal human being, with only one head, one heart, two lungs, two hands and as many legs. And because of these physical and mental limitations, today the results of the commissions and working groups coordinated by General Kopelipa are practically unknown.
Even the famous GRN (Office of National Reconstruction) that he directed, was extinguished before achieving the objectives for which it was created. National roads, important bridges and other essential infrastructure for the reconstruction of the country were left halfway.
And it wasn't for lack of money. Most likely, General Kopelipa was not successful on all fronts because he carried too much sand in his truck. Much given to claiming for himself pioneering in almost everything – from the fight against corruption, construction of hospitals, something that began as an obsession, but has now become a hobby – strangely, President João Lourenço has incorporated in his style of governance some practices that have not yielded any results in the past.
Like his predecessor, President JL seems to see in some of his collaborators superhuman qualities. Appointed in June to the post of Minister of State for Economic Coordination, most likely José de Lima Massano has not yet fully filled the "recipe" to get the country's economy out of the stifling it is in.
The recent statements by President Lula and Graça Machel, former companion of Samora Machel and later of Nelson Mandela, about the misery they have seen in Angola mean an extra weight on the shoulders of the Minister of State for Economic Coordination.
It is up to José de Lima Massano to devise economic policies that restore some dignity to the lives of Angolans. Still grappling with the recipe for the miserable state of the economy, José de Lima Massano, saw the weight he already carries doubled.
The portal Correio da Kianda, owned by a senior official of the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication, recently reported that the President of the Republic entrusted José Massano with the coordination of a multisectoral commission, in charge of designing the infrastructures to support the New Luanda International Airport.
Correio da Kianda highlights, among the infrastructures to be built, the airport city of Icolo Bengo and Luanda, as well as the respective protection and expansion zones.
In order to "respond to the needs of carrying out preliminary studies, as well as to prepare the pieces inherent to the model of administrative management, urban and real estate management, operation and financing of the Airport city of Icolo and Bengo", according to Presidential Decree No. 201/23, the Commission includes the "ministers" of Transport, Public Works, Urbanism and Housing, Economy and Planning, Territorial Administration, Industry and Commerce, Interior, Telecommunications, Information and Communication Technologies, Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Energy and Water, Environment, Culture and Tourism, and Justice and Human Rights.
Altogether there are 13, the assistants of the Holder of the Executive Power that will be under the "tutelage" of José de Lima Massano. In a country that rationally and judiciously exploited its insufficient resources, the coordination of the new commission would be entrusted to a less busy individual.
Such is, for example, the "kunanga" Esperança Costa, the vice-president of the Republic. At least that way he would justify the salary and all the perks inherent to the position. A vice-president who is only good for going to the airport to say goodbye or to receive her boss is of no use at all.
It would be preferable to keep it in the Fisheries and in the Academy. Angola has a long history of underutilizing its vice presidents. In the garb of Prime Minister (because the position of vice-president did not yet exist), the only relevant task that Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos "Nandó" performed was to lead a meeting of the Council of Ministers.
But, before leaving, José Eduardo dos Santos set the agenda for the meeting and left express guidelines according to which the Council of Ministers was prohibited from debating matters other than those on the agenda.
As vice-president of José Eduardo dos Santos, Manuel Vicente had better "luck". Zé Kitumba delegated to him the presidency of the meetings of the Social Dialogue Council, a consultative body of the President of the Republic, which, between 2010 and 2017, met less than half a dozen times.
João Lourenço's deputy in the first term, Bornito de Sousa, occupied most of his time in the office dedicated to solitaire games and others. João Lourenço flatly rejected his desire to take over the coordination of the social sector.
If accepted, Bornito de Sousa's proposal would make the creation of the post of Minister of State for Social Affairs unnecessary. Which would mean less spending.
Esperança Maria Eduardo Francisco da Costa, João Lourenço's current deputy, is following the same path. When her boss's mandate comes to an end, in 2027, "Aunt Pancha", as she is called in family circles, will record as her only "achievements" the comings and goings to and from the international airport to wish João Lourenço a good trip or welcome.
In countries like Brazil, with which Angola has many affinities, the vice president is not a decorative figure. In addition to the constitutional task of making up for the absence of the Head of State, the current Vice-President, Geraldo Alckmin, is also Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services.
In the United States, the vice president presides over the Senate. He shall not have the right to vote, except in the event of a tie. In short, common sense says that the President of the Republic himself will reap greater rewards from José de Lima Massano if he leaves him exclusively dedicated to the herculean task of carrying out the economic reforms that the country needs, with great urgency.
Não há instrumento legal nenhum que obrigue o actual ministro de Estado para a Coordenação Económica a carregar às costas todo o Governo. Não fosse a ilusão de que é capaz de tocar vários instrumentos simultaneamente, o próprio Massano deveria ter dito que a coordenação económica não lhe deixa tempo para outras tarefas, que, ainda por cima, requerem acompanhamento permanente. A experiência do passado recente deveria servir para alguma coisa.
Source: Angonoticias
Is Massano the new "Jack-of-all-trades"?
The late President José Eduardo dos Santos had in General Hélder Vieira Dias "Kopelipa", Minister of State and head of the Military House, his "jack of all trades".
It was to General "Kopelipa" that President JES delegated the tasks he did not want to do, due to laziness or lack of time. It was in General "Passo em Corrida", a pseudonym he gained because of the speed with which he moved, that JES entrusted the coordination of almost all the commissions and working groups.
Taken as an all-rounder, Kopelipa was a jack of all JES's work. However, in spite of the immense powers he had, which made him, in fact, the second figure of the State; From his recognized mental versatility and dedication to the many and distinct challenges entrusted to him, General Kopelipa never ceased to be a normal human being, with only one head, one heart, two lungs, two hands and as many legs. And because of these physical and mental limitations, today the results of the commissions and working groups coordinated by General Kopelipa are practically unknown.
Even the famous GRN (Office of National Reconstruction) that he directed, was extinguished before achieving the objectives for which it was created. National roads, important bridges and other essential infrastructure for the reconstruction of the country were left halfway.
And it wasn't for lack of money. Most likely, General Kopelipa was not successful on all fronts because he carried too much sand in his truck. Much given to claiming for himself pioneering in almost everything – from the fight against corruption, construction of hospitals, something that began as an obsession, but has now become a hobby – strangely, President João Lourenço has incorporated in his style of governance some practices that have not yielded any results in the past.
Like his predecessor, President JL seems to see in some of his collaborators superhuman qualities. Appointed in June to the post of Minister of State for Economic Coordination, most likely José de Lima Massano has not yet fully filled the "recipe" to get the country's economy out of the stifling it is in.
The recent statements by President Lula and Graça Machel, former companion of Samora Machel and later of Nelson Mandela, about the misery they have seen in Angola mean an extra weight on the shoulders of the Minister of State for Economic Coordination.
It is up to José de Lima Massano to devise economic policies that restore some dignity to the lives of Angolans. Still grappling with the recipe for the miserable state of the economy, José de Lima Massano, saw the weight he already carries doubled.
The portal Correio da Kianda, owned by a senior official of the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication, recently reported that the President of the Republic entrusted José Massano with the coordination of a multisectoral commission, in charge of designing the infrastructures to support the New Luanda International Airport.
Correio da Kianda highlights, among the infrastructures to be built, the airport city of Icolo Bengo and Luanda, as well as the respective protection and expansion zones.
In order to "respond to the needs of carrying out preliminary studies, as well as to prepare the pieces inherent to the model of administrative management, urban and real estate management, operation and financing of the Airport city of Icolo and Bengo", according to Presidential Decree No. 201/23, the Commission includes the "ministers" of Transport, Public Works, Urbanism and Housing, Economy and Planning, Territorial Administration, Industry and Commerce, Interior, Telecommunications, Information and Communication Technologies, Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Energy and Water, Environment, Culture and Tourism, and Justice and Human Rights.
Altogether there are 13, the assistants of the Holder of the Executive Power that will be under the "tutelage" of José de Lima Massano. In a country that rationally and judiciously exploited its insufficient resources, the coordination of the new commission would be entrusted to a less busy individual.
Such is, for example, the "kunanga" Esperança Costa, the vice-president of the Republic. At least that way he would justify the salary and all the perks inherent to the position. A vice-president who is only good for going to the airport to say goodbye or to receive her boss is of no use at all.
It would be preferable to keep it in the Fisheries and in the Academy. Angola has a long history of underutilizing its vice presidents. In the garb of Prime Minister (because the position of vice-president did not yet exist), the only relevant task that Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos "Nandó" performed was to lead a meeting of the Council of Ministers.
But, before leaving, José Eduardo dos Santos set the agenda for the meeting and left express guidelines according to which the Council of Ministers was prohibited from debating matters other than those on the agenda.
As vice-president of José Eduardo dos Santos, Manuel Vicente had better "luck". Zé Kitumba delegated to him the presidency of the meetings of the Social Dialogue Council, a consultative body of the President of the Republic, which, between 2010 and 2017, met less than half a dozen times.
João Lourenço's deputy in the first term, Bornito de Sousa, occupied most of his time in the office dedicated to solitaire games and others. João Lourenço flatly rejected his desire to take over the coordination of the social sector.
If accepted, Bornito de Sousa's proposal would make the creation of the post of Minister of State for Social Affairs unnecessary. Which would mean less spending.
Esperança Maria Eduardo Francisco da Costa, João Lourenço's current deputy, is following the same path. When her boss's mandate comes to an end, in 2027, "Aunt Pancha", as she is called in family circles, will record as her only "achievements" the comings and goings to and from the international airport to wish João Lourenço a good trip or welcome.
In countries like Brazil, with which Angola has many affinities, the vice president is not a decorative figure. In addition to the constitutional task of making up for the absence of the Head of State, the current Vice-President, Geraldo Alckmin, is also Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services.
In the United States, the vice president presides over the Senate. He shall not have the right to vote, except in the event of a tie. In short, common sense says that the President of the Republic himself will reap greater rewards from José de Lima Massano if he leaves him exclusively dedicated to the herculean task of carrying out the economic reforms that the country needs, with great urgency.
Não há instrumento legal nenhum que obrigue o actual ministro de Estado para a Coordenação Económica a carregar às costas todo o Governo. Não fosse a ilusão de que é capaz de tocar vários instrumentos simultaneamente, o próprio Massano deveria ter dito que a coordenação económica não lhe deixa tempo para outras tarefas, que, ainda por cima, requerem acompanhamento permanente. A experiência do passado recente deveria servir para alguma coisa.
Source: Angonoticias
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