Hélder Muteia

Hélder dos Santos Félix Monteiro Muteia was born in the city of Quelimane, Mozambique, on September 21, 1960. He is a writer, politician and professional in the agricultural sector.
==Biography==
He was graduated in Veterinarian Medicine from the Eduardo Mondlane University (1990) and concluded his master’s degree in Agroeconomics at the University of London (2009)..
He showed an interest in literature from a very early age, having started to write when he attended the first years of secondary education, although his first publication took place only in 1979, in the pages of Notícias da Beira - a daily newspaper, when he was at the Agrarian Institute of Chimoio. He was one of the founding members of the Literary Movement CHARRUA (1983).
He was also a founding member of the literary movement called ECO at the Eduardo Mondlane University (1985). As a literary activist, he held the position of General Secretary of the writers’ association AEMO (1992-1995) and President of the AEMO Supervisory Board (1996-1999). He then, collaborated with several newspapers and magazines (Notícias, Diário de Moçambique, ECO, Tempo, Lotus and Forja) with opinion articles and chronicles. A variety of his literary works are included in national and foreign anthologies such as “Contos Moçambicanos” and “Sonha Mamana Africa”.
He coordinated the literary page “Ler e escrever” in Domingo newspaper for several years. 
He published various essays on literature as well as texts focused on economics and sociopolitical analyses.
As a professional in the agricultural sector, he started his career in 1982, as Co-director of the Poultry Project of Chokwe, in Gaza province. He was the National Director of the Training Center for Agriculture and Rural Development – Mozambique (1997-1998).
As a politician, he was elected member of the Mozambican Parliament (1994-1998), for the Constituency of Zambezia, under the FRELIMO Party. During his term of office, he was the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Regional Development and Public Administration of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique (1994-1998).
He was the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (1998-2000), and later, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (2000-2004).
He joined FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), serving as FAO Representative in Nigeria (2005-2010), FAO Representative in Brazil (2010-2013), FAO representative in Portugal and CPLP (2013-2016) and FAO Subregional Coordinator for Central Africa and FAO Representative in Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe (2016-2022)
==Published Works==
Amongst the published works, there are: “Verdades dos Mitos”, poetry (1988); “Vozes de Sangue”, report on children affected by war in Mozambique (1988), in partnership with Eduardo White; “Nhambaro”, tales and chronicles (1996); “Sonhos ao avesso”, poetry - (2009); “Reflexões sobre a agricultura, ambiente, desenvolvimento rural e alimentação” (2015); “O barrigudo e outros contos” (2018); “Passo a Passo”, chronicles (2020); “Como a História nos fez Pátria e Nação”, chronicles (2021); “Matoa, A febre do Batuque”, romance (2022).
==Awards==
He was distinguished with several awards and decorations, including: Golden Ark Award from the Peace Parks Foundation (2001), presented by His Royal Highness, Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands in South Africa on 13th February 2001, in recognition of his dedication to nature conservation, especially for the enormous contribution to the creation and development of the Trans frontier Park and Conservation Area – Gaza Kruger Gonarezhou (GKG), and a diploma of honor conferred by the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano in 2005, in recognition of his contribution to the development of Mozambique during his tenure as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Category:1960 births
Category:Eduardo Mondlane University alumni
Category:Alumni of the University of London
Category:Writers
Category:Politicians
Category:Agriculture