"Why hire a company linked to the organization of electoral fraud in Africa and Latin America? Why hire a company that is friendly to the world's dictatorships", questioned the chairman of the parliamentary group of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola at a press conference (UNITA), Liberty Chiaka, highlighting that Indra is "rejected in the country of origin".
Liberty Chiaka also questioned the procedure adopted (public tender or direct agreement) to choose the company and whether there were other competitors
The Spanish consultancy has been identified by Angolan opposition parties as being linked to fraud and electoral favoritism and, according to the newspaper El Confidencial, was fined by the Spanish Tax Agency, as part of an investigation into the payment of illegal commissions of 2.4 million euros, during the 2012 Angolan presidential elections.
The company acknowledged "management deficiencies" in relation to Angola, but denied paying illegal commissions, admitting that it was investigated by the Tax Agency in 2015.
Liberty Chiaka also criticized the fact that UNITA initiatives, including debates on transparency in public procurement and the fight against corruption, were blocked last week by the MPLA parliamentary majority, while the president of the ruling party, and head of the Angolan executive, João Lourenço, joined "his electoral machine" in Menongue (capital of Cuando Cubango province) to accuse the opposition of wanting to achieve power at any price.
"Fortunately, the Angolan people know that this is an accusation without any foundation. There can be no one in Angola who wants to take power from the people, because the people already took power when they gained independence and democracy, there is already a political calendar for the people to exercise their power", underlined the UNITA leader, appealing to "people's representatives whose mandate is ending to stop disrespecting the Constitution of the Republic and the law".
As part of its inspection activity, Liiberty Chiaka, said that the parliamentary group will use other instruments to overcome the blockade of the parliamentary majority, asking for hearings by the Minister of the Interior, Eugénio Laborinho, and the commander-in-chief of the National Police "on the strange increase in police violence in an election year"
UNITA also wants to hear from the Minister of Finance, Vera Daves, about the "repeated practice" of direct adjustment in public procurement, as well as the president of the CNE, Manuel Pereira da Silva "Manico", showing that he is "extremely concerned" with information which point to the hiring of Indra to organize the logistics for the August 2022 general elections.
