13 November 2008
Maputo — Eusebio Siquela, who was dismissed from his job as general manager of Mozambique's National Roads Administration (ANE) earlier this week, has denied the claim from anonymous members of the ANE board that he was sacked for "poor performance".
Interviewed in Thursday's issue of the independent newsheet "Mediafax", Siquela declared "I was the victim of people who didn't want me there".
Siquela was appointed head of the ANE in June 1007, after the post had been publicly advertised. Apparently he did not win the confidence of the ANE board which suggested, on 31 October, that he be removed. He did not know about his imminent sacking until Tuesday.
"I'm leaving because those who have the decision-making power wanted it that way and took the decision", he said, referring clearly to the ANE board and to the Minister of Public Works, Felicio Zacarias.
He told "Mediafax" that since joining the ANE he had worked hard. "I did what I thought was necessary, and it was the best way of doing it", he insisted.
He had discovered that, in recommending his dismissal, the board had resorted to a clause in the ANE statutes which mention, as grounds for removal, "serious and blameworthy failings committed by the office-holder in the performance of any duty inherent to his position".
But if this were the case, then he should have been notified, and given the opportunity to answer the charges against him, said Siquela. "But I was never notified about any of these serious failings they allege", he declared.
As for supposed failures to raise funds for certain key road repairs, Siquela pointed out that the ANE management does not raise funds from donors or from funding agencies. The only money it handles comes from the Road Fund (which derives essentially from Mozambican fuel taxes).
"They wanted the job, now they've got it", declared Siquela. "I just ask that they leave me in peace and don't spread slander about supposed poor performance".
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