Millions of Luandans gather in self-built neighborhoods and tight, bumpy and dusty streets, informed about the best way to defend themselves against the new coronavirus, but with few means to do so, but not least because the water does not reach all The houses.
With the entry into force this Friday of the state of emergency, which will restrict the movement of people for at least 15 days, concerns are growing. If they have nothing to sell, many will also have nothing to eat.
“Our concern here is not really the coronavirus, we managed to protect ourselves and be in our homes without leaving, but the people here depend on the food buying by the kilo: the person worked today and buys the kilo of rice today. Being giving 15 days to the person who depends on the kilo, from today to tomorrow, how is it? ”Asks Paulino Agostinho, a resident of Catinton.
Here there is a lack of water and disinfectants to prevent the epidemic, but above all the possibility, for those who depend on a daily subsistence of some kwanzas, to be confined at home for 15 days.
“Are we going to stay in the yard? There is no food, no water, no disinfectant, nobody can go to the market. I will not accept, if I'm hungry, stay locked at home”, challenges the resident, stressing that“ hunger ”is going to complicate things, because“ everyone depends on biscato”.
Neighbor José Oliveira agrees: “We can stay at home for 15 days without any problem, but the biggest problem is food, water. The bidon is 100 kwanzas, what are we going to do? I make biscato, buy some things to be able to resell. It's complicated".
Maria Sebastião, a zungueira, joins in to say that she needs to leave the neighborhood to “buy business to‘ zungar ’” and acquire “a kilo of rice”. “These 15 days, we are not going to endure. We will not be able to protect ourselves, because hunger is too much”, he says.
Everyone is concerned about the disease, which means that the message transmitted incessantly on televisions and radios, and by the health authorities who travel to the neighborhoods, is being welcomed.
Including children like Josemar and Valdemar, who repeat what their mother taught her: “We should take our hands with water, soap and bleach”.
The same goes for José Manuel, “musician from the Catinton neighborhood”, next to the chaotic and carpeted entrance of the Mercado 1º de Agosto, crossed by an incessant and noisy tide of cars honking, “robots” carrying loads in the carts and “zungueiras” that circulate in all directions, bringing and taking goods.
“We are frightened by this disease, we want to use the masks, wash our hands with soap and water and bleach”, but “the water here in the neighborhood is difficult”, he tells Lusa, while other passersby gather around, trying to make voice and complaints.
Zungueira Ana Garcia also “washes her hand with soap and water” when she can, but she will not be able to stop selling: “I have nothing in my house. If I stop coming to sell my children they will die of hunger”.
In a small sewing shop, Esperança João goes to great lengths to dispatch her new “bestseller”: cloth masks.
“We bought some cloths and rubber bands to make this type of masks and make it easier for people who don't have the money to give 400 kwanzas. So we made masks for 100, 200 and 300 kwanzas. We are selling many, especially those of 100 kwanzas because we want to help people ”, he stresses.
But on Friday, everything can change: “We heard on the radio that we have to stay home and we are very concerned. This is where we get our children's daily bread. We are very worried and sad, we know that the disease is affecting the whole country, but staying at home… I don't see a solution ”, he says, relying on“ prayer ”.
One of the customers of the colorful masks is Sheila, a resident of Povoado, better known as Areia Branca, an unhealthy neighborhood that gained media attention due to the “Luanda Leaks” scandal, when it was learned that its inhabitants had been victims of eviction because of a project that never progressed.
Carrying a bag of lemons to “add with boiled water and make a juice to fight viruses”, Sheila laments: “They say we have to use soap and water, now I ask: people who don't have water, how can they stay? If nobody can get out, how does it stay? It will be difficult for anyone to go out or sell ”.
João Alferes Kingimbo knows that the “virus is highly aggressive” and points out that all preventive care must be taken to contain covid-19. "Here in the neighborhood we have the minimum conditions, we have running water," he says, showing the water, soap and bleach that he uses to clean his hands frequently.
Kingimbo also affirms that the most informed people “pass the message on to the rest” and knows that from Friday there will be “a total stop of all the movement”.
But he thinks, like many of the other residents, that people had little time to prepare for the state of emergency, declared by João Lourenço on Wednesday.
“Today is Thursday, I think there is little time for people to be properly informed. Information should be anticipated so that everyone is in a position to be prepared to enter this state of emergency ”.
The state of emergency presupposes the partial suspension of some rights, including residence, movement and migration to any part of the national territory and other restrictions that the authorities deem necessary to reduce the risk of contagion by community circulation.
The measures may include "compulsory confinement" in their own home or health establishment and interdiction of travel and stay on public roads, which are not justified, for example in the exercise of professional activities, medical assistance or supply of goods.
