A cleanup mission for the tax boss

The head of the Tax Authority has been replaced in order to fulfil the government’s agenda, but they will need to get a grip on corruption

Good afternoon. The replacement of the head of the Tax Authority is not the top story on the cover of any Mozambican newspaper today, but it should be. The announcement of Elisa Zacarias’ dismissal yesterday is the second most important change in personnel of President Daniel Chapo’s government after the replacement of police chief Bernardino Rafael in January.

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Along with the police force, the Tax Authority is another shining symbol of all that is wrong with the Mozambican state. If everything that the Tax Authority and its subsidiary, Mozambique Customs, collected in taxes and fees were properly reported and handed over to the state treasury, then the government would not have any shortfall in tax collection. In practice however, a great deal of that money goes into the pockets of corrupt officials.