Ver Angola

Society

Archbishop denounces that deaths continue in Cafunfo and diamond exploration

The Archbishop of Saurimo, José Imbamba, denounced this Wednesday that in the region of Cafunfo and in diamond mining areas in the east of the country “people continue to die”, making the guards who protect the mines responsible, and asked for “safeguarding life”.

: Lusa
Lusa  

"In Cafunfo, people are still dying, in diamond mining areas people are still dying, so the security guards of the companies that defend the mines still continue to slaughter people," said the Catholic prelate, in an interview with the Catholic Issuer of Angola.

For the Catholic archbishop, the Church "will not be silent" in the face of acts that threaten people's lives, noting that the complaint "is not to taint this or that".

"It is simply calling for security, life, respect and the guarantee of decent work for all citizens," he noted.

The archbishopric of Saurimo, province of Lunda Sul, comprises the ecclesiastical or diocese provinces of Luena, province of Moxico, Dundo, province of Lunda Norte and Saurimo, and province of Lunda Sul, all in eastern Angola.

The northern and southern "Lundas" provinces are the largest diamond producers in Angola.

Last week, two garimpeiros were shot dead by security guards at the diamond mine in Cuango, Angola, when they tried to rebel against the guards, according to Lusa, the head of the concessionaire company (Sociedade Mineira do Cuango), located in the province of Lunda. North.

The mine recorded another incident, on April 21, in which two young men were shot in the feet after reacting violently against security guards, according to Hélder Carlos.

The mining town of Cafunfo, in the province of Lunda Norte, was the scene of incidents, in the early hours of January 30, which resulted in deaths and injuries, acts considered by the authorities as "a rebellion", but by local society as a "peaceful demonstration" .

According to the police, about 300 people linked to the Portuguese Protectorate Movement Lunda Tchokwe (MPPLT), which has been defending the autonomy of that region rich in mineral resources for years, tried to invade a police station in Cafunfo, Lunda Norte province, and in defense of the order and security forces fatally hit six people.

The police version is contradicted by MPPLT leaders, opposition political parties and local civil society who speak of more than twenty deaths.

Following the incidents, the Political Bureau of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA, in power since 1975) issued a statement rejecting the acts and condemning alleged external interference.

To Angolan Catholic radio, José Imbamba, also vice-president of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST), classified the MPLA's statement as "sad", considering it was "done with emotion".

"And it does not reflect what we are experiencing, we do not receive reports in the offices, we go to the place and the problem is that we continue with the effects and we do not like to go to the cause", pointed out the archbishop.

José Imbamba also criticized the "partisanization of public institutions", defending its "decentralization and reducing bureaucracy".

The improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the populations, especially basic services of health, education, water, energy, basic sanitation and employment are among the "motivations of the claims" of the citizens in the east of Angola, according to local reports.

For José Imbamba, who praises the return of the headquarters of the companies Endiama and Fundação Brilhante, to Dundo, development "must be distributed equally" and "development poles must be disseminated throughout the country".

"And since this region is rich in this natural resource, then it is entirely natural that these companies should make themselves felt in their strength from the ground where they explore the wealth that makes the whole country happy", he stressed.

And "better development", he stressed, "is none other than the development of people, investing in people, investing in improving the culture of this people, investing in everything that will make Lunda emancipe, develop, rediscover itself and contribute positively to the harmonious development of the country ".

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