Speaking to Lusa, the parliamentary leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), Liberty Chiaka, reaffirmed that the main opposition party will challenge what he said was a "simulacrum" of a public tender, criticizing the statements of officials of Indra which, in his opinion, confirm the "rottenness" of the process.
The Spanish company Indra, which through its subsidiary Minsait will manage the Angolan elections scheduled for August, rejected this Monday the accusations of fraud by the Angolan opposition, stressing that it was unanimously chosen by a committee that includes all Angolan parties.
"Minsait's proposal was unanimously elected by the evaluation committee of the National Electoral Commission [CNE] of Angola, made up of representatives of all political parties in the country, that is, the same party that announces that it will contest the selection of Minsait chose the Minsait's proposal," a company source told Efe news agency.
"I cannot confirm that UNITA representatives were present, we do not know who participated, we do not know who the members of that commission are, how does Indra know? This statement only shows the rottenness of this system that proves the collusion that exists between Indra and the regime, so it is not able to participate in the electoral process", accused the deputy.
The politician said that UNITA has representatives in the CNE, as indicated in the legislation, but underlined that they are independent and do not receive guidance from the party.
"The CNE has 17 members, the president and 16 more, nine of whom are appointed by the MPLA [power party], four by UNITA, one by CASA-CE [Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola - Electoral Coalition], one by the PRS [ Social Renewal Party] and one from the FNLA [National Front for the Liberation of Angola], but UNITA does not know who is on the evaluation committees, nor do these people receive political guidance from UNITA, they must act independently under the law", highlighted.
He therefore considered that the news "in no way weakens" UNITA's decision to challenge the contest, "on the contrary", as it confirms the party's concerns.
"What those responsible for Indra have just said is very serious, as they could not know who is part of the commission, this is proof of the rottenness and corruption installed. This news proves what UNITA denounced", he criticized.
The Spanish company has denied the accusations and said that it has never received administrative or criminal sanctions for reasons related to the provision of its services, despite having admitted being fined "purely of a fiscal nature".
According to Liberty Chiaka, in acknowledging that she suffered an "administrative sanction" she also violates the regulation approved by the CNE: "Indra only came to confirm the serious faults she committed, lying to the Angolan State and to the CNE".
The head of the parliamentary group also highlighted that, in the tender, rules of public procurement were violated, by imposing restrictive rules on competition, which express a "preference" for a particular company, noting that "unfortunately" Indra is connoted with electoral fraud.
"UNITA filed criminal complaints in 2008 and 2012 and the judiciary only failed to act because the courts are not independent", he stressed.
UNITA announced last week that it will contest the public tender in which the Spanish company Indra was hired to manage the technological system for the general elections scheduled for August and requested a parliamentary hearing from the electoral commission.
According to Liberty Chyaka, the contestation of the contest promoted by the CNE arises because "Indra's conduct has harmed electoral transparency".
"Law No. 41/2020 of December 23 sets out principles and rules that, in our view, were violated in the public tender held by the CNE", said Liberty Chyaka on the 16th.
The UNITA politician then said that, under article 9 of the Public Procurement Law, those interested in public procurement procedures cannot engage in, participate in or support corrupt and fraudulent practices, such as the intentional declaration of false facts. ".
For UNITA, Indra, "convicted in Spain of fraudulent practices", will have "intentionally declared false or wrong facts to participate in the competition held by the CNE, aiming to prevent the participation of other interested parties and restrict competition".
Indra has been challenged by opposition political parties and Angolan civil society for allegedly "biasing the results" of the elections in Angola, held in 2008, 2012 and 2017.
The next general elections in Angola are scheduled for the second half of August 2022 and Indra was the company chosen by the CNE, through a public tender, to provide the technological solution that encompasses the provisional count and the final count of all registered votes. in the general elections.
Indra guaranteed, in a statement sent to Lusa on Monday, that the electoral process in Angola will be conducted "in a professional and transparent manner".
CNE spokesman Lucas Quilundo said in February that the departure of the other competing company, SmartMatic, was due to non-compliance with the rules of the contest and ruled out that Indra's choice compromised the "smoothness" of the electoral process, despite the Angolan opposition challenge the option for allegations of fraud.
