Lunda Norte government reinforces funds for the road and expects to complete the first section in April

The poor condition of the road, which is potholed and divided by ravines, is one of the biggest concerns of the more than 160,000 residents of the village, who are forced to use the road that crosses the Cuango mining concession, which is subject to restrictions, as an alternative.

The lack of access, exacerbated by extreme poverty, has been a source of conflict in Cafunfo, where, in January last year, a demonstration promoted by the Lunda Tchokwe Protectorate Movement ended in clashes with the police and an undetermined number of deaths. .

In March 2021, the provincial governor of Lunda-Norte, Ernesto Muangala, visited the site and announced the rehabilitation of the road, whose progress has been hampered by the technical complexity of the works and the pandemic situation, among other constraints, as he explained to Lusa. .

The earthworks of Estrada Nacional 165, 200 kilometers connecting Cuango, Cafunfo and Loremo, is, according to the governor, a "structuring project in terms of communication routes" that will "reduce mobility constraints" and improve the well-being of the populations. more than 33 kilometers on the section that connects the headquarters (Cuango) to the town of Cafunfo have been leveled to date.

"The section is complex and presents technical engineering challenges, and the constraints encountered in the execution of the work have hybrid origins, the constant rainfall typical of the region and the situation of the covid-19 pandemic, which led the contractor to reduce the workforce", justified Ernesto Muangala, in writing, in a reply sent to Lusa.

The official stressed that the project, initially budgeted at 2.1 billion kwanzas, will benefit from a budget increase that will guarantee the full execution of the contract, without specifying the amount.

"We believe that, by the end of April, the first section, headquartered in Vila de Cafunfo, will be completed, which will certainly guarantee a better circulation of people and goods", assured Ernesto Muangala.
The governor also pointed out solutions that will allow, in the future, to solve the problems of water supply, energy and sanitation in the locality.

"In the short/medium term, the implementation of three photovoltaic energy production plants for the municipality's headquarters, Comuna do Luremo and Vila de Cafunfo, are planned, projects that are the responsibility of the Ministry of Energy and Water", said the official.

Within the scope of the 2025 Energy Security Plan, the executive authorized the execution of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Energy and Water and a consortium formed by the companies ELEKTRA – Electricidade e Águas de Angola, Limitada, and Angola Hydro Holdco, Lda, with a view to carrying out feasibility studies to build and operate independent hydroelectric projects from scratch along the Cuango River, called Vuka I, Vuka II and Vuka III, which will produce 305 megawatts of energy.

Negotiations are also underway for the implementation of projects linked to the construction of three water supply systems in those locations, as part of an external financing line, he added.

As for basic sanitation, "two companies operate in the municipality that provide cleaning and sanitation services within the scope of the Integrated Intervention Plan in the municipalities, whose actions focus on the municipality's headquarters and in other localities", according to the governor.

"It should be noted that the municipal administration, still in the actions of the PIIM, acquired machines and equipment for basic sanitation, which has allowed the collection of solid waste at the municipal level", he also referred, underlining that "the Government of Lunda-Norte works and will always work to ensure the well-being of the population".