He was Director of the Department of Education and Culture for Frelimo, Governor of the Banco de Moçambique (Bank of Mozambique) and Minister of Security and of Agriculture.
He was the great-grandson of pt:Julião José da Silva Vieira, a Portuguese soldier and colonial administrator, and maternal cousin to Orlando da Costa, a Portuguese writer.
During university studies, he was part of the youth opposition movement Empire Students' House.
During exile in Dar-es-Salam, he headed the FRELIMO Culture and Education Department.
After the independence of his country, he held the position of Governor of the Banco de Moçambique[4] and Minister of Internal Administration.