ONLY THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO SEE CAN'T SEE...
Afonso Almeida Brandão"
THEhierarchical distance highlights the way in which those who have less power in a society accept inequality in its distribution, and this dimension is reflected by the Hierarchical Distance Index (HDI) which measures the level of centralization in a society.
The HDI in Portugal is 73.
To give a comparative idea, Guatemala, India and West Africa have, respectively, 95, 77 and 75, while Portugal's partner countries in the European Union (as an example!) and more developed countries, such as Germany, Sweden and Denmark, have, in the same order, 35, 31 and 18. Austria, it is worth mentioning, has the best index - 11. Outside the European Union, Israel has 13. And in relation to the countries that currently make up the SADC, perhaps PALOPs, we can say that it is not even worth talking about numbers so as not to be embarrassed...
In Our Country We Can Identify
The Following Shameful Realities
— Grotesque salary range (difference between the lowest and highest salary), which in some cases can reach inconceivable values (there are cases where the Administrator earns 450 thousand Meticais or more while the worker with higher functions, as is the case of the Deputies and those who (mis)govern our Country, can earn between 650 and 800 thousand Meticais per month, excluding “perks” included — which surprises no one...; — and in 2001, the average salary range in the CPLP was significant — ahead of all other African countries — and, in 2008, in Mozambique the percentage of companies with a net salary range of more than 350 thousand Meticais was/is still 15.1%; little or almost no spontaneous participation of workers in the companies.
— Almost nonexistent civic involvement of citizens; total distrust in political leaders due, among other factors, to the huge difference in benefits and privileges with the common citizen; use and, in some cases, abuse of “braids” in conflict situations, limiting or eliminating the necessary appreciative equity and relative justice; marked inability to promote business initiatives;
— Difficulty in sharing information and establishing partnerships and consortiums; difficulty in citizens’ access to the Central Government and almost no response from the latter to their concerns, requests and complaints; still a strong emphasis on titles, whether social, academic or professional (Governor, Professor, Engineer or Director); still a marked tendency towards submission and excessive tolerance towards arbitrary actions, abuses and mistakes by those in power (State, Employers, Managers, Large Suppliers, Large and Medium-sized Companies, etc., etc.). And we could cite other examples, but the space in this section does not allow it.
The high hierarchical distance (high HDI) in the political class, in general, and in the area of those who (mis)govern the country, directly and indirectly leads to the distancing of these, workers and citizens. In companies, workers tend to have an attitude of “enough is enough”, thus not deriving from them the necessary added value, which is so fundamental and underlying a more demanding concept of psychological contract. In the second case, citizens become almost eunuchs, incapable of changing the “status quo”, taking refuge in the typically Mozambican “coffee shop chats” and social networks. We have all certainly wondered why we Mozambicans are appreciated and seen as professionals and valuable citizens in other countries, but in our own we are seen as “non-productive”. It is curious, don’t you agree? Hierarchical distance is one of the explanations, if not the most important reason. In fact, it would be unthinkable to see a minister travelling by bicycle in Mozambique or any other oasis in the CPLP, but there are countries where this happens. Referendums, which are so common in other countries, such as South Africa (HDI of 34), are practically non-existent in our country, for example. In Angola and Cape Verde (in the latter country the HDI is 35), politicians and (mis)governors who are caught in the web of the law end up in prison. Did you know that?
In Mozambique, suspicions are growing and deepening regarding the involvement of politicians, government officials, mayors and directors of large and medium-sized companies, and in certain cases, the sentences are either non-existent or light. One of the most recent examples occurred with the Tete Municipal Council and nothing has happened to date, as far as we know. Not to mention the corruption and undue spending for the personal benefit of these “machine guns” from FRELIXO in a favourable position, to the detriment of the Public Treasury... IT HAPPENS AND IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. In Mozambique, the gap between the richest and most powerful and the poorest has been growing. Just look at the more than 29 million poor people (98.5% of our general population) and the increasingly non-existent middle class. These marked inequalities are rooted in a culture of living and exercising power for power’s sake, without any notion of sharing and without any social sense (mission). Which is regrettable...
Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the CPLP, perhaps among the PALOP countries, roughly on par with South Africa (HDI of 40). Is it a mere coincidence that it is so economically successful compared to European countries, particularly Ireland and its HDI of 28? Unlike what happens, for example, in the Nordic countries (by the way!), with a very balanced HDI, in Mozambique the exercise of political power is unilateral, based on the assumption that because power was granted through “fraudulent” elections since 1975, the (mis)governors of FRELIMO, who have been “in stone and mortar” at the helm of our country, can do whatever they want, without taking into account the diverse opinion of society, which seems to have finally woken up...
Studies have already been carried out to confirm the high level of sadness and general lack of motivation among Mozambican citizens from the North to the South of our country. It is therefore urgent to rethink the use of power in CPLP countries and in various organisations, including in the PALOP countries (we repeat)... In the latter, their leaders must adopt leadership behaviours marked by a transformational attitude in order to capitalise in the best possible way on the main organisational asset at their disposal - people. It is essential, once and for all, to overcome the paradox between discourse and practice. Everyone emphasises the importance of people, but no one acts accordingly. Or are we wrong?!...
In the CPLP countries, and in those of which the PALOP countries are part, in particular, it is essential to rethink and revolutionise the concept of “participation” of citizens in public life and in relevant decisions about the lives of these countries and their citizens. The time has come to realise that voting in elections is no guarantee of anything concrete and that it may even increasingly be an act that legitimises a policy of distancing those who decide from those who pay the bill for these decisions. Especially when “these” elections take place and have been “fraudulent” for 50 years, as is the case in Mozambique, at the hands of FRELIXO!!!...
In the interests of Justice, Seriousness and Morality, we should move from intentions to practice and value the path of INTEGRITY and EQUITY, otherwise Mozambican society runs the risk of becoming hostage to a few addicts and dazzled by Power — such as the President of the Republic Daniel Chapo and his Ministers who “brought home”, starting with the “Ministers” of HEALTH and ECONOMY —, without any political experience, incapable and dangerous people, which is what happens with this (?) Executive of the current Government in office among us. Does anyone have any doubts about this? Because the results (we assure you!) are plain to see. And only those who do not want to see will not see them...■
2025/12/3
ONLY THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO SEE CAN'T SEE
Afonso Almeida Brandão"
THEhierarchical distance highlights the way in which those who have less power in a society accept inequality in its distribution, and this dimension is reflected by the Hierarchical Distance Index (HDI) which measures the level of centralization in a society.
The HDI in Portugal is 73.
To give a comparative idea, Guatemala, India and West Africa have, respectively, 95, 77 and 75, while Portugal's partner countries in the European Union (as an example!) and more developed countries, such as Germany, Sweden and Denmark, have, in the same order, 35, 31 and 18. Austria, it is worth mentioning, has the best index - 11. Outside the European Union, Israel has 13. And in relation to the countries that currently make up the SADC, perhaps PALOPs, we can say that it is not even worth talking about numbers so as not to be embarrassed...
In Our Country We Can Identify
The Following Shameful Realities
— Grotesque salary range (difference between the lowest and highest salary), which in some cases can reach inconceivable values (there are cases where the Administrator earns 450 thousand Meticais or more while the worker with higher functions, as is the case of the Deputies and those who (mis)govern our Country, can earn between 650 and 800 thousand Meticais per month, excluding “perks” included — which surprises no one...; — and in 2001, the average salary range in the CPLP was significant — ahead of all other African countries — and, in 2008, in Mozambique the percentage of companies with a net salary range of more than 350 thousand Meticais was/is still 15.1%; little or almost no spontaneous participation of workers in the companies.
— Almost nonexistent civic involvement of citizens; total distrust in political leaders due, among other factors, to the huge difference in benefits and privileges with the common citizen; use and, in some cases, abuse of “braids” in conflict situations, limiting or eliminating the necessary appreciative equity and relative justice; marked inability to promote business initiatives;
— Difficulty in sharing information and establishing partnerships and consortiums; difficulty in citizens’ access to the Central Government and almost no response from the latter to their concerns, requests and complaints; still a strong emphasis on titles, whether social, academic or professional (Governor, Professor, Engineer or Director); still a marked tendency towards submission and excessive tolerance towards arbitrary actions, abuses and mistakes by those in power (State, Employers, Managers, Large Suppliers, Large and Medium-sized Companies, etc., etc.). And we could cite other examples, but the space in this section does not allow it.
The high hierarchical distance (high HDI) in the political class, in general, and in the area of those who (mis)govern the country, directly and indirectly leads to the distancing of these, workers and citizens. In companies, workers tend to have an attitude of “enough is enough”, thus not deriving from them the necessary added value, which is so fundamental and underlying a more demanding concept of psychological contract. In the second case, citizens become almost eunuchs, incapable of changing the “status quo”, taking refuge in the typically Mozambican “coffee shop chats” and social networks. We have all certainly wondered why we Mozambicans are appreciated and seen as professionals and valuable citizens in other countries, but in our own we are seen as “non-productive”. It is curious, don’t you agree? Hierarchical distance is one of the explanations, if not the most important reason. In fact, it would be unthinkable to see a minister travelling by bicycle in Mozambique or any other oasis in the CPLP, but there are countries where this happens. Referendums, which are so common in other countries, such as South Africa (HDI of 34), are practically non-existent in our country, for example. In Angola and Cape Verde (in the latter country the HDI is 35), politicians and (mis)governors who are caught in the web of the law end up in prison. Did you know that?
In Mozambique, suspicions are growing and deepening regarding the involvement of politicians, government officials, mayors and directors of large and medium-sized companies, and in certain cases, the sentences are either non-existent or light. One of the most recent examples occurred with the Tete Municipal Council and nothing has happened to date, as far as we know. Not to mention the corruption and undue spending for the personal benefit of these “machine guns” from FRELIXO in a favourable position, to the detriment of the Public Treasury... IT HAPPENS AND IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. In Mozambique, the gap between the richest and most powerful and the poorest has been growing. Just look at the more than 29 million poor people (98.5% of our general population) and the increasingly non-existent middle class. These marked inequalities are rooted in a culture of living and exercising power for power’s sake, without any notion of sharing and without any social sense (mission). Which is regrettable...
Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the CPLP, perhaps among the PALOP countries, roughly on par with South Africa (HDI of 40). Is it a mere coincidence that it is so economically successful compared to European countries, particularly Ireland and its HDI of 28? Unlike what happens, for example, in the Nordic countries (by the way!), with a very balanced HDI, in Mozambique the exercise of political power is unilateral, based on the assumption that because power was granted through “fraudulent” elections since 1975, the (mis)governors of FRELIMO, who have been “in stone and mortar” at the helm of our country, can do whatever they want, without taking into account the diverse opinion of society, which seems to have finally woken up...
Studies have already been carried out to confirm the high level of sadness and general lack of motivation among Mozambican citizens from the North to the South of our country. It is therefore urgent to rethink the use of power in CPLP countries and in various organisations, including in the PALOP countries (we repeat)... In the latter, their leaders must adopt leadership behaviours marked by a transformational attitude in order to capitalise in the best possible way on the main organisational asset at their disposal - people. It is essential, once and for all, to overcome the paradox between discourse and practice. Everyone emphasises the importance of people, but no one acts accordingly. Or are we wrong?!...
In the CPLP countries, and in those of which the PALOP countries are part, in particular, it is essential to rethink and revolutionise the concept of “participation” of citizens in public life and in relevant decisions about the lives of these countries and their citizens. The time has come to realise that voting in elections is no guarantee of anything concrete and that it may even increasingly be an act that legitimises a policy of distancing those who decide from those who pay the bill for these decisions. Especially when “these” elections take place and have been “fraudulent” for 50 years, as is the case in Mozambique, at the hands of FRELIXO!!!...
In the interests of Justice, Seriousness and Morality, we should move from intentions to practice and value the path of INTEGRITY and EQUITY, otherwise Mozambican society runs the risk of becoming hostage to a few addicts and dazzled by Power — such as the President of the Republic Daniel Chapo and his Ministers who “brought home”, starting with the “Ministers” of HEALTH and ECONOMY —, without any political experience, incapable and dangerous people, which is what happens with this (?) Executive of the current Government in office among us. Does anyone have any doubts about this? Because the results (we assure you!) are plain to see. And only those who do not want to see will not see them...■
2025/12/3
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