The announcement was made this Monday by João Lourenço in his capacity as president of the MPLA at the opening of the first ordinary meeting of the party's Central Committee, in Luanda.
The medals are intended to recognize the achievements of those who, "in difficult and dangerous circumstances, without expecting any kind of immediate advantage or reward, carried out actions that contributed not only to the overthrow of colonialism, the apartheid regime and to the consolidation of national independence and sovereignty, but also to the achievement and maintenance of peace and national reconciliation, national reconstruction, economic diversification, job creation and social well-being" for all.
Of the 247 citizens, 99 will be awarded in the Independence Class and 148 in the Peace and Development Class, according to a publication on the presidency's website.
The list does not include the names of Jonas Savimbi, founder and president of UNITA, who died in combat on 22 February 2002, and Holden Roberto, leader of the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), who, together with António Agostinho Neto, president of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and first President, led the three movements that fought against Portuguese colonialism.
"[We will] celebrate with joy, jubilation and with our eyes focused on the economic and social development of the country, after having definitively overcome the prolonged war against external enemies and built peace and national reconciliation among us, the sons of the same country, Angola", stressed João Lourenço, on the occasion of the celebrations of Angola's 50th anniversary as an independent country and "free from any type of colonial oppression, slavery and humiliation".
"To achieve this important milestone in our history, the total dedication, extreme sacrifice and loss of lives of thousands of Angolan daughters and sons on all fronts of the struggle, namely on the political, diplomatic, cultural and military fronts, were crucial", he stressed.
The medal commemorating the 50th anniversary of National Independence will be awarded to a first group of national citizens on 4 April, Peace and National Reconciliation Day, a date on which João Lourenço also wants to call on Angolan citizens to reflect on the Angola they want for future generations, regardless of party affiliation, ethnic origin, religious or social denomination.
