Margarida Talapa
Margarida Adamugy Talapa | |
|---|---|
| President of the Assembly of the Republic | |
| Assumed office 13 January 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Esperança Bias |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 6, 1962 |
| Political party | FRELIMO |
Margarida Adamugy Talapa (born 5 June 1962) is a Mozambican politician who has been President of the Assembly of the Republic since January 2025.
Early life
[edit]Margarida Adamugy Talapa was born in Memba, Nampula Province, on 5 June 1962.[1] She is a member of the Macua ethnic group.[2]
Career
[edit]Talapa joined FRELIMO in 1974, just after the country's war of independence ended. She joined the party's youth and women's movements in 1976.[2] She was a member of the first Secretariat of the Mozambican Youth Organisation (OJM) in the District of Member in 1977.[3] In August 1991, she became a member of the Frelimo Central Committee.[3]
From 1994, Talapa worked in the provincial and central offices preparing for elections.[3] In 1997, she was elected as a delegate for the party's seventh congress.[2]
Talapa was elected to parliament in 2000.[2] She was elected to the central committee of the party and then in February 2010 she was elected to the lead the party's parliamentary group.[2] She was deputy head of the parliamentary group from 2000 to 2009.[3] During the 2012 congress, she played a significant role in helping Armando Guebuza maintain control of the party and spoke of her admiration for him.[2]
Talapa was the government appointed non-executive director of telecom company Mcel from 2007 to 2013, resigning after the parliament approved a law of public integrity that limited conflicts of interest.[2]
Talapa served as Minister of Labour and Social Security from 2020 to January 2025 in the government of President Filipe Nyusi.[1][4]
Talapa was elected chair of the Assembly of the Republic on 13 January 2025 after standing as the sole candidate for the ruling Frelimo Party.[5] She is the third woman to serve as parliamentary speaker in Mozambique, succeeding Esperança Bias who was President from 2020 to 2025.[1][6] In her first speech as President of the Assembly, Talapa said she was aware she was taking over at a challenging time and that she would seek to ensure the Assembly remains a worthy representative of all Mozambicans. She said, "We will work with all living forces to pacify society, with national unity and the strengthening of democracy, tolerance and a culture of peace. Regardless of whether we are from different parliamentary benches, we must look to the people."[7]
In May 2025, Talapa spoke on a panel on "The Role of Women for Environmental Well-Being" at the 10th International Ecological Congress in St Petersburg, Russia.[8]
Personal life
[edit]Talapa is a Muslim.[2] Her daughter, Anchia Safina Talapa Formiga was elected to the Parliamentary Assembly in 2025.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Margarida Talapa". Club of Mozambique. 23 March 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Mozambique: Talapa takes to Tete". The Africa Report. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Conheça o perfil e o percurso da 3ª mulher que será chancelada como a nova Presidente da Assembleia da República: Margarida Talapa" (in Portuguese). Integrity. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ Hanlon, Joseph (20 January 2020). "Mozambique: Nyusi names new government". Club of Mozambique. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ "Margarida Talapa elected chairperson of parliament". Agência de Informação de Moçambique. 13 January 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ Chirrinzane, Acácio (13 January 2025). "Margarida Talapa eleita presidente da AR". AIM Nes. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ "Margarida Talapa Says She Is Ready to Unite Parliamentary Benches". 360 Mozambique. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ Caetano, José (23 May 2025). "Margarida Talapa talks about the political, economic and social situation in Russia". MZN News. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ ""Tal mãe, tal filha"? Margarida Talapa e Anchia Talapa Formiga encontram-se na Assembleia da República". Integrity. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.