COVALIMA (TOP) - Local government refers to the autonomous administration of municipalities, with democratically elected bodies to manage local interests, decentralizing functions from the central government. It is based on proximity to the citizen, managing essential services such as urban planning, culture, its own finances, and social support.
Timor-Leste’s government is in the process of socializing local government decentralization to all municipalities before its implementation in 2027. The local government socialization process led directly by Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, covered almost all municipalities in Timor-Leste.
On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, it took place in the municipal authority of Covalima where it was welcomed by the local community with great enthusiasm.
During the socialization, he urged all levels of Covalima society not to allow familiarism and partisanship to undermine the implementation of local government in 2027.
“Must be free from the system of familiarism, groupism, tribalism, partisanship and others,” Prime Minister (PM), Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão drew attention to this issue during the dialogue “Look closely at the Covalima municipal work from the results of the assessment of minimum conditions” held at the Covalima administration building on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
He added, when free from the behaviors mentioned above will bring success to the policy of decentralization of local government in the municipality.
In his intervention, PM Xanana reminded that in two months Timor-Leste will celebrate its 24th anniversary of independence. From this celebration, the entire state including the local government in Covalima measured what has been done in 24 years.
“Reflect on what is wrong, what is good and try to correct it to do better. Because the heroes who are sitting here, they suffered not just to get a flag, a National Anthem and today they are still suffering. They want the country to gain independence so that all Timorese and Covalima people must solve their own problems, and also develop this country themselves,” he said.
That is why we are meeting today to ask each other, a greater commitment to this idea. Think about this country. Think of the people who suffered in this country and were able to gain independence.
PM Xanana quoted the recommendation of the evaluation team of the Ministry of State Administration which asked to improve the line of good coordination between all authorities of the municipality of Covalima.
He quoted the recommendation that asked not to fight each other, not to boast when assuming a position as director, must serve an objective for the country and the people.
"The recommendation of the Ministry of State Administration asks that there should be no nepotism, tribalism and no partisanship. You all must be together, think of this country. Think of the lives of this people. Because Covalima has great potential that now to deliver to you how to do,” PM Xanana appealed.
To make local government is not just a structure, but seek to start correcting to improve the recommendations that the team gives. Private interests must be eliminated and the interests of the people must be put above all.
Therefore, PM Xanana encouraged to jointly look carefully and start drawing up a plan that must come from the village, take to the village, to the administrative post and to the municipality.
All level of local authorities must work together to find out what is most important and priority to develop.
“We will not do everything once a year, but when we do well, once a year in one place and another year in one place will gradually complete everything that the people need,” PM Xanana encouraged.
Appeal to the intellectuals of Covalima to help the authorities to prepare and improve the services that are not good, so as to bring results to the people in Covalima.
He appealed to the youth to actively participate in development by creating peace and stability, loving each other, preparing themselves well because the future of the country is in the hands of the youth.
Finally, the Head of Government thanked the speakers who came here. Always pray to God, also ask the ancestors to help the whole process, so as to achieve the dream of the people of this country for development and well-being.
Minister of State Administration (MAE), Tomas do Rosário Cabral asked the municipal authorities especially the directors of municipal services to work together, listen to each other, unity and not create groups to fight each other in the workplace because unity is an important factor to accept decentralization of local government.
“Based on the assessment that has been done in the first phase in Covalima, many things need to be improved in order to accept the policy of decentralization of local government. These things you must work together to improve,” Tomas do Rosário Cabral asked.
Recommendations based on the results of the Minimum Condition Assessment (MCA) team, Covalima has specific recommendations, create order and discipline rigorously to avoid abuse of power and uphold professional ethics, avoid political intervention in municipal governance.
Monographs and Demography; Administrative Post Administrator to guide the posted Administrative Post IT Officer to actively collect data in the village and submit monthly.
Recommendations based on the results of the MCA on Financial Management and procurement; it is necessary to create a financial control system or cash book, relevant matters with financial planning and management must be published in the Municipal Portal based on the recommendations of the Chamber of Accounts, it is necessary to strengthen the structure to follow the Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) and Terms of Reference, execution must comply with legal procedures. PDIM, Must have mapping, budget plan and budget coverage, procurement plan must be approved by the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Installation and Material Resources; need to propose needs in the 2027 budget plan, need to improve material resources and installation conditions that are not complete.
Administration and File Systems; it is necessary to reorganize all administrative services according to the existing rules, it is necessary to administer archive management and promote a digitalized system for archives, to promote understanding of the hierarchy of administrative services in the municipality of Covalima.
To facilitate the improvement of the existing recommendations, MAE will offer generic training and technical training that has started training in the second week of February to November 2026 by INAP, DGDGL and DGSMAL with participants from the municipal authority structure and administrative post.
Meanwhile, the President of the Covalima Municipal Authority, Miguel Armada Cardoso presented to the Prime Minister and the ministers present about the profile and potential of the municipality as a basis to respond to the criteria set in the policy of decentralization of local government.
The presentation focuses on economic, social, infrastructure and institutional development, including human resources, natural resources, budget and municipal coordination.
Covalima has its own Single Balcony and Portal to facilitate management in these areas, the Government has taken the initiative to develop integrated services such as “Single Balcony” to accelerate services to the community at the municipal level, also has its economic potential, Covalima has a large area that is used extensively for agriculture, livestock, and also becomes a strategic center for the oil and gas sector (Supply Base).
Natural Resources and Geology in Covalima, the terrain also has unique geological characteristics such as oil & gas in some areas on the coast, where oil flows out of the ground (natural oil seeps), which shows the potential of large mineral resources in the terrain.
Finally, the President of the Authority declared before the Prime Minister and ministers that the municipality of Covalima is ready to receive local government that the central government will implement in 2027.
This policy is set out in Law number 3/2016 on Local Government and Administrative Decentralization with its main objectives: strengthen local democracy, people can participate directly in decision-making, increase public service efficiency, promote economic and social development, municipalities can plan development according to reality, increase transparency and reduce responsibility.
During the visit, the Prime Minister was accompanied by the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão Francisco de Sousa, Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forests, Marcos da Cruz, Minister of Health, Elia dos Reis Amaral, Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus, Vice-Minister of Public Works, Júlio do Carmo, Secretary of State for Social Communications, Expedito Dias Ximenes, Secretary of State for Local Development, Mateus dos Santos Tallo, municipal authorities, post authorities, local authorities, veterans, directors of municipal services, heads of departments, intellectuals including civilian and military authorities.
Covalima municipality has seven administrative posts, 30 districts, 148 villages with a total population of 88,598 from 21,446 households who speak Tetum Terik, Bunak and Kemak.
