Joaquim Chissano assumed leadership of Mozambique’s transitional government after the agreement that promised the transfer of power to FRELIMO. The caretaker administration was installed on September 20, 1974, following the suppression of a failed settler coup in Lourenço Marques. Its composition reflected the unsettled passage from Portuguese colonial authority to FRELIMO-led independence.

The transitional government included six FRELIMO members and four Portuguese members. It operated until independence and had to manage both political uncertainty and the practical consequences of decolonization. FRELIMO used the period to broaden its political presence, particularly in areas of southern Mozambique and in major urban centers where its wartime presence had been limited.

Chissano’s administration also addressed inherited social and economic problems. It encouraged literacy programs, began a health campaign, and strengthened the Mozambique Women’s Movement. Through public statements and private meetings, Chissano sought to reassure the white community and prevent a mass departure that could deprive Mozambique of skilled labor and place additional pressure on its underdeveloped economy.