"This withdrawal of the fuel subsidy makes me very worried and this could cause very strong convulsions in the future, unless the Government has taken this measure today and manages to lower or stabilize the prices of the basic food basket in two weeks", stated, this Thursday, the analyst.
Speaking to Lusa, following the presidential decree made public this Thursday that puts an end to gasoline subsidies, Pakisi questioned the purposes of the measure and the role of the President's advisors, João Lourenço, in defining the economic measures.
"I don't understand what the President of the Republic wants to do and where he wants to go and what his advisors say about the situation [in the country]. Because it is very difficult and strong social upheavals are expected and not I know what the idea is behind it", he insisted.
For Albino Pakisi, the removal of gasoline subsidies should further worsen the already difficult social and economic situation of Angolan families, who face the daily increase in basic food products.
The analyst recalled that the partial removal of subsidies, in June 2023, worsened the country's situation, which is likely to see "worse days" with the new measure.
The philosopher and university professor also said he was "surprised" by this presidential decision, at a time when, he highlighted, there are complaints about salary increases to face the high cost of living in the country.
"I honestly thought that the Angolan State would think about a better social state in order to find ways to support these families who are increasingly in need and work so that the basic food basket has stable prices", he lamented.
"But prices are rising every day and will the Government withdraw the fuel subsidy and will it withdraw the cards given to some professional classes?", he asked.
The President, João Lourenço, took another step in removing fuel subsidies by ending the exemptions granted to some professional classes, as of April 30, according to a decree published in Diário da República.
The Angolan Government announced on June 1st last year, the gradual withdrawal of the fuel subsidy, which started with gasoline, but exempted some economic activities.
These included family agropastoral activities, artisanal fishing, taxi drivers and motorcycle taxi drivers, through the delivery of cards with a daily limit of 7000 kwanzas to cover the difference between the 160 kwanzas per liter that gasoline costs and the current 300 kwanzas.
According to the presidential decree published this Thursday, the cap on gasoline subsidy cards will be removed by April 30th.
Albino Pakisi considered that the process of delivering subsidy cards to taxi drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers, artisanal fishermen and other professionals in the productive sector "was a failure", because "many [of these professionals] did not receive [the subsidized cards]".
"The Government was not able to give this card to everyone who needed it", concluded the political and social analyst.
