According to the vice-president of the parliamentary group of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), Albertina Ngolo, the vigil is part of the celebrations of May 8, UNITA Deputy's Day, in honor of its patron Raul Danda (who died on May 8, 2021 and who was also an RNA announcer).
The vigil, scheduled to take place between 7pm and midnight on Thursday, “is a peaceful and non-violent demonstration that aims to reflect and make those responsible reflect on the situation of freedom of the press and expression in Angola”, said the deputy, recalling that freedom of the press “is freedom for all”.
UNITA deputies from the country's other provinces must also replicate the vigil at the provincial RNA broadcasters, within the framework of the Constitution and the law, he said.
“UNITA Parliamentary Group, for Freedom of the Press and Electoral Transparency” is the motto of the UNITA Deputy's Day 2025, which aims to praise the performance of its patron as a journalist and his fight for freedom of expression and the press.
Raul Danda defended, in his speeches, the need for freedom of expression and of the press and his “pressuring force also contributed to the resumption of live broadcasts of plenary meetings of the National Assembly”, he said.
“His fight for electoral fairness and transparency is equally notable, which is why we think it is fair to remember him with related activities. At a time when the world marked May 3 as Press Freedom Day, the figure of Raul Manuel Danda and his fight to achieve this goal encourage us to do more for press freedom,” he said.
The UNITA deputy defended equal treatment for all political and civil society actors, the right to exercise democratic opposition and freedom of expression and pointed out the need for more effort and dedication to “counteract the sharp setback” of the main referents of the Rule of Law in Angola.
UNITA regretted that, 50 years since the achievement of independence in Angola, “constant violations and restrictions” on the exercise of press freedom persist, namely “censorship in public media outlets, persecution of journalists and lack of pluralism in public bodies, which continue to compromise citizens’ right to free and impartial information”.
He also reaffirmed his “commitment to the uncompromising defense” of press freedom, the dignity of journalists and the urgent need for reforms in the social communications sector, calling for the “depoliticization” of public communications bodies and the review of legislation in the sector.
Regarding the review of the electoral legislative package, Albertina Ngolo recalled that the parliament approved in general terms, on April 23, some diplomas, including those initiated by her party, but the public television stations “violated” the Constitution and the Press Law with regard to equal treatment, the adversarial principle and the right to reply.
Public television “promoted a parade of commentators and deputies who only defended the interests of the ruling party, which intends at all costs to subvert the electoral truth”, criticised the deputy, adding that the UNITA parliamentary group, which is proposing three bills on the same subject, was not invited.
"After all, what is the fear of hearing contradictory voices on structural matters in our country?", he asked.
