João Lourenço, who was speaking this Wednesday in the city of Sumbe, capital of the province of Cuanza Sul, as part of the electoral campaign, highlighted his presence in Praça da República, in Luanda, and throughout the provinces, during the seven days of death, of "Angolans in general, political parties, civil society, even foreigners, diplomats", who "in an orderly manner" went to pay tribute to José Eduardo dos Santos.
"Did you see some of those who were saved by José Eduardo do Santos, going to pay homage to those who saved them? I didn't see anyone. So, what kind of people are these? They didn't go to pay homage to their savior", said João Lourenço, who is running for a second term, after the first he held between 2017 and 2022.
The former president died on 8 July this year, in Barcelona, Spain, and the government declared a seven-day national mourning period, during which several people paid tribute to the president emeritus of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) refused to pay tribute to José Eduardo dos Santos, in the absence of its remains, which are being disputed in Spain between two wings of the former's family. president and the Angolan state.
One of the daughters of the former head of state, Welwitschia "Tchizé" dos Santos, accuses João Lourenço of wanting to take political advantage of the death of his father, who died in Barcelona, and says that he will fight to the end against the return of the body to be buried in Angola while João Lourenço is in power, claiming that this is his will.
"Tchizé" dos Santos also says that his father was disillusioned with João Lourenço, due to the legal proceedings against some of his children and close collaborators, and that he would rather see UNITA leader Adalberto da Costa Júnior in power.
