Kendzianism: The salvation of the excluded or the most visible symptom of structural unemployment in Mozambique? Alipio Freeman

Alípio Freeman "

There are phenomena that emerge discreetly, grow on the fringes of major national debates, and, before we know it, are deeply ingrained in the economic and social fabric. Kendzianism is one of these phenomena. It wasn't born yesterday. It wasn't invented recently. It doesn't result from any business school, nor from some sophisticated economic theory produced in the world's most prestigious universities. Kendzianism is a reality built in the streets, in the markets, in the neighborhoods, on the corners, and in the informal corridors of the Mozambican economy.

However, its increasing visibility demands that the phenomenon be analyzed in greater depth. Not merely as an economic activity for survival, but as a mirror capable of reflecting the virtues, contradictions, and weaknesses of the national economy itself.

The concept derives from Kendze, a word from the Xangana language meaning testicle. Interestingly, what traditionally could be considered an insult has become, especially among younger people, a term carrying prestige, recognition, and even admiration. In the current context, however, Kendze has ceased to be merely a word in the popular vocabulary and has become a social reference.

The term resonates with one of the most media-savvy figures associated with commercial intermediation in Mozambique. Although he is neither the creator of the model nor the only example of its success, he has probably become its most visible, influential, and representative face. The reach of his image and ideas was such that his name came to identify a way of being in the economy, a philosophy of survival, and a strategy for generating income.

From this reality emerges what we refer to here as the Kendczian Method.

The Kendczian Method is based on a seemingly simple logic. The individual does not need to own the product they are selling. They do not need to own a factory, a store, a structured company, or a large initial capital. Their main asset is their ability to identify opportunities, bring buyers and sellers together, build networks, negotiate prices, promote products, and facilitate business deals.

The Kendczian lives by being an intermediary. He lives by connecting needs with solutions. He lives by his influence, his persuasion, his network of relationships, and his ability to transform information into income.

Consequently, we will call anyone who uses this method for their livelihood a Kendzian. And we will call the economic and social phenomenon that results from the spread of this practice Kendzianism.

The most interesting thing is that Kendzianism cannot be analyzed solely as a business model. In reality, it represents a collective response to a much larger structural problem: the inability of the Mozambican economy to generate sufficient formal opportunities for its young population.

Every year, thousands of young people graduate from high school, vocational courses, and university programs. Every year, new citizens enter the job market with legitimate expectations of building a career, achieving financial stability, and contributing to the country's development. However, the formal economy proves incapable of absorbing this growing mass of labor.

The state continues to be, directly or indirectly, the largest national employer. But its financial limitations are becoming increasingly evident. Hiring is reduced. Job applications are becoming more and more competitive. Opportunities are scarce.

On the other hand, the private sector continues to grow below the country's needs. There are companies, there are investments, and there are significant entrepreneurial initiatives. However, the volume of jobs generated remains insufficient to meet existing demand.

It is in this void that the strength of Kendzianism is born.

What appears to many economists as mere informality represents, for thousands of young people, a genuine survival strategy. Kendzianism allows for income generation where there are no jobs. It allows for the creation of opportunities where there are no vacancies. It allows for the transformation of social relationships into economic capital.

In many cases, young Kendzians are able to earn more than certain formal jobs offer. They are able to pay rent, support their families, invest in small businesses, and finance their academic education.

From this perspective, it would be unfair and intellectually dishonest to ignore the economic importance of the phenomenon.

Kendzianism mobilizes significant financial resources. It facilitates the circulation of goods and services. It brings producers and consumers closer together. It energizes sectors such as real estate, the automotive trade, construction, land sales, tourism, services, and countless other economic activities.

However, what today seems like a solution may also represent a warning sign. The rapid growth of Kendzianism can be interpreted as an admirable demonstration of the adaptability of Mozambicans. But it can also be interpreted as evidence that traditional job creation mechanisms are failing.

A robust economy is characterized by its capacity to generate wealth through the production of goods, industrialization, modern agriculture, technological innovation, and the provision of specialized services. Intermediation plays a legitimate role in this process, but it can hardly constitute the dominant activity of an entire generation.

When thousands of young people come to depend on informal intermediation as their main source of income, perhaps we are not simply witnessing a demonstration of economic creativity. Perhaps we are witnessing the most visible manifestation of an economy incapable of offering more stable and productive alternatives.

There is yet another dimension that is often ignored. Much of the activity associated with Kendzianism takes place in a grey area from a legal and institutional point of view. Many transactions occur without formal contracts. Many commissions are agreed verbally. Many partnerships are based exclusively on personal trust.

This reality creates an environment conducive to conflict. Disputes over clients. Disagreements regarding commissions. Accusations of unfair competition. Misappropriation of contacts. Litigation over who is responsible for the deals made.

Even more serious is the fact that some practices can contribute to market distortions. In certain circumstances, the excessive proliferation of intermediaries increases transaction costs, hinders price transparency, and fuels opportunistic behavior.

The problem is not with the Kendzians. The problem lies in the conditions that produce more and more Kendzians.

When a society begins to consider it normal for a significant portion of its youth to depend exclusively on informal intermediation to survive, it may be losing the ability to distinguish between solution and symptom.

Kendzianism is an individual solution. But structural unemployment remains a collective problem.

Kendzianism should be valued for its ability to generate income. It should be recognized for the role it plays in the economic inclusion of thousands of young people. It should be understood as a legitimate response to a lack of opportunities. But it should not be celebrated as destiny.

The real challenge for Mozambique is not to produce more Kendzians. The real challenge is to create the conditions so that Kendzianism ceases to be a necessity and becomes just one option among many others.

Therefore, Kendzianism should be understood for what it truly is: an ingenious solution for those seeking survival, but also a worrying symptom of a structural disease that remains untreated. And, as with any chronic illness, ignoring the symptoms can be far more costly than addressing them in time.

2025/12/3