"We are in the middle of an election year, since, under the Constitution, the general elections will be held in August of this year, they will be organized in such a way that they are free, fair, transparent and comprehensive", said this Friday the Minister of State and Head of Military Household of the President, Francisco Pereira Furtado.
The official, who presided this Friday, in Lunda Sul province, at the celebrations of the 61st anniversary of the beginning of the armed struggle for national liberation, also urged all eligible citizens to register for the vote.
Angola's next general elections, the fifth since 1992, are scheduled for the second half of August 2022, as established by the revised Angolan Constitution.
Angola marks the 61st anniversary of the start of the national liberation struggle in honor of the Angolan nationalists who on 4 February 1961 attacked jails and prisons in Luanda to free political prisoners of the Portuguese regime.
Francisco Pereira Furtado, who was speaking on behalf of the President, João Lourenço, said that the "bravery, courage and determination of the heroes of the 4th of February" contributed to the affirmation of Angola's name in the concert of nations.
This struggle, he considered, also allowed Angola to live today in a "moment of peace and stability", a fundamental condition "for the economic, social, cultural and human development" of the country, he said.
The events that marked the beginning of the struggle for national liberation in Angola "should constitute a true heritage for the current generation in order to consolidate patriotism, national unity, the democratic rule of law and the common well-being of Angolans", he added.
"Angolans holding hands for the future" is the motto of the 4th of February 2022 celebrations.
In the government's view, the greatest expression of gratitude to national heroes of devotion to the country, "especially on the part of young people", must be the "dedication to studies, professional training, work and respect for the law and moral norms of good social coexistence".
For the Minister of State, recognition of heroes should also be manifested in attitudes "for the preservation of independence and national unity".
"What unites us from Cabinda to Cunene and from the sea to the east is superior to the small political differences that separate us," he observed.
With the national liberation struggle over, on the battlefields, he noted, "it continues today in other fields, on other fronts, but always in search of the same objectives that guided the previous battles, the well-being of the Angolan people".
The fight to fight hunger and poverty, eradicate illiteracy, guarantee universal and quality education and overcome the challenge of ensuring access to quality health care and others are some of the current battles, he listed.
"The Angolan executive is committed to stabilizing the economy and improving macroeconomic indices. For it to grow again, we need to diversify our economy so that it is not dependent on oil, we need to increase national production and reduce dependence on imports of products", stressed the governor.
Angola "needs today to improve the conditions for attracting private investment, so that Angolans invest in their land" and foreigners see Angola "as an attractive place to do business", he added.
"Only in this way will we have a strong private sector, capable of creating jobs so that Angolans, each one of us, can live and support their families with dignity", said the minister.
According to Francisco Pereira Furtado, Angola also needs to win the "fight for the moralization of society": "We need everyone, and each one of us individually, to see public affairs as a collective good for all, which must be well taken care of and used in benefit of all Angolans".
The also coordinator of the Interministerial Commission for the Prevention and Combat of covid-19 also urged citizens to adhere to vaccination.
