Borges Nhamire, a researcher at the Center for Public Integrity (CIP), said that the President of the Republic (PR), Filipe Nyusi, had given Mozambicans a bad festive gift by announcing the government's measure not to pay the 13th salary.

"The president went to give a bad present to civil servants. He should have announced it at another time. Now, when people are five days away from Christmas, which in Mozambique is also the Family Festival, it's the highest moment for Mozambicans, the President is going to announce that he doesn't have a 13th [salary], it's very cruel," he said on Tuesday, commenting on the PR's report to Nação on the channel STV News.

In addition, Nhamire disagreed with the PR's analysis of the nation's problems, although he recognized the comprehensiveness of the presidential speech, as it listed the most essential aspects that marked the year 2022.

"In terms of what the president summarized as the most important things, I think he was profound. He captured almost all the essential events of the year, but he made an analysis with which I don't agree, in many things, not wanting to say whether he's right or wrong," said the analyst.

The researcher noted, for example, that the PR was hasty in saying that the implementation of the Single Salary Table (TSU) "has put an end to nepotism and patronage in the civil service".

In his opinion, it is still premature to measure and indicate the gains or positive impacts of the TSU because its implementation is still embryonic and people are not feeling its effects.

"It's a very empty political speech because we haven't felt [its] effects yet. We need time to evaluate a public policy that is being implemented now," Nhamire explained, pointing out that the TSU doesn't even meet the needs of the medical profession, teachers, members of parliament, magistrates and the Defense and Security Forces.

"The president has to be honest when speaking to television, when speaking to the nation," said the analyst.