In the press release, the National Police of Huambo regrets the deaths, which were "not possible to avoid" due to "acts of violence and affront to the police forces".
In addition to the victims, the police also recorded the breaking of windows in two public transport buses, an ambulance, from the provincial offices of Urbanism and Environment, from the Angolan news agency Angop, from INAFOP and from the substation of the Benguela Railway.
The police also refer to the attempt to vandalize food warehouses and the 3rd police station, as well as the vandalism of five action committees of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) party.
According to the balance sheet, 29 motorcycles were seized for direct involvement in acts of public disorder, which will be held criminally responsible.
"The command of the National Police of Huambo addresses to the bereaved families the deepest feelings of regret for the loss of their loved ones during the registered acts of public disorder and reiterates the commitment to continue working to reinforce the feeling of security in the communities, guaranteeing, under the terms of the law, the free exercise of citizens' rights and freedoms, therefore calling on the population to remain calm, avoiding getting involved in acts that promote violence and public disorder", reads the statement.
On Monday, Huambo began to register acts of public disorder, which, according to the police, consisted in the paralysis of taxi activities in various parts of the province, with an incidence in the municipalities of Huambo and Caála, in several taxi stops, where taxi drivers and motorcycle taxi drivers had set up several barricades to harass colleagues who did not join "the violent protest, attacking them with throwing objects while removing passengers from their vehicles".
This situation "motivated the prompt intervention of the police forces, with the aim of safeguarding the physical integrity of people and their property".
At issue is the increase, as of last Friday, in the price of gasoline, following the withdrawal of the fuel subsidy by the Government.
According to the Government, the subsidy remains for taxi drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers, urban public transport, the fishing sector and agriculture.
So that taxi drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers and owners of artisanal fishing vessels continue to pay 160 kwanzas per liter of gasoline instead of the price of 300 kwanzas per liter of gasoline, the Government will assign personalized cards to this class of operators, who are licensed, with the daily subsidy of 7000 kwanzas the difference to cover the new value stipulated for this fuel derivative.
