In a press conference held this Thursday, the fourth vice-president of the parliamentary group of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), Olívio Kilumbo, said that the parliamentary hearing aims to obtain clarifications on the May presidential order authorizing the purchase of 600 buses for a value of around 350 million dollars (323.5 million euros).
Olívio Kilumbo highlighted that, "in view of the concerns of Angolans taking into account the country's economic situation, considering the inconsistencies noted in the presidential order", the request for a hearing was made to the president of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira, on the 30th of May.
According to Olívio Kilumbo, the parliamentary group understands that public transport, along with traffic routes, represent a structuring factor for the movement of people and goods and that can affect commercial flow and all economic activity.
"Angola, independent for 49 years, is experiencing a public transport crisis that worsens every year, with a greater incidence in the main urban centers and intermunicipal and provincial connections, due to the poor condition of the roads, as well as enormous demographic pressure", mentioned.
The UNITA deputy highlighted that, "in the context of austerity imposed by the executive on citizens, under the pretext of the economic crisis that has been plaguing the country, Angolans were surprised by yet another irresponsible measure, attacking their intelligence".
Although the Minister of Transport, Ricardo de Abreu, was heard last week by the Parliament's Economy and Finance Committee, for the UNITA parliamentary group that hearing does not respond to their request, "because it fits into a different logic and by law it is not the requested entity."
"The UNITA parliamentary group considers that the Transport Minister's responses did not satisfy the deputies who are members of the Economy and Finance Committee. Therefore, it maintains its position and awaits the necessary clarifications", he stressed.
According to Olívio Kilundo, the UNITA parliamentary group recognizes the lack of transport in Angola, "however, it understands that, within the scope of public contract formation procedures, the exaggerated preference of the holder of executive power to opt for simplified contracting persists, when the law favors open competitions and requires that this measure be adopted only in exceptional situations".
At the press conference, the initiative to combine the law proposals on the institutionalization of local authorities in the country by the UNITA parliamentary group and the executive was also discussed, for debate in the specialty.
In addition to the invitation to the parliamentary group of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the mixed parliamentary group Social Renewal Party (PRS)/National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) and the representation of the Humanist Party of Angola (PHA), civil society was also invited, with a meeting scheduled for Friday.
In the invitation, the UNITA parliamentary group expresses its availability and commitment to prior consultation, aiming to prepare debates in the specialty.
"At the moment, contacts are already underway to continue the dialogue mentioned above", said the deputy.
