In the communiqué read by CEAST's spokesman, Belmiro Tchissengueti, the bishops mentioned that in the analysis of the country's situation, "a slight improvement in the treatment of the activities of political parties" was observed, encouraging all the media "to promote the culture of contradictory and impartial information for the good of citizenship and democracy".
Angola will hold its fifth general elections on 24 August this year, with the participation of eight contestants, including seven political parties and a coalition.
The bishops said that there were also several outbreaks of pre-election instability "with clear signs of physical and verbal violence from political parties", so they appealed to the "need to safeguard peace and reconciliation within legitimate differences".
In the message for the second year of the triennium dedicated to children, the bishops also considered that in Angola there are worrying signs of poverty, which, in almost every country, "leave children unable to attend school or catechesis".
"The lack of medical and medication assistance and the guarantee of the children's education is another reason that has harmful consequences for the disappearance of children from their homes in the age group of 6 to 14 years", said the Bishop of Menongue and president of the Episcopal Commission of Education and Catechesis, Leopoldo Dakalako.
According to the bishop, these are children who spend most of their time on the street without parental and family attention and care, emphasizing that some children run away from home due to abuse, violence within the family and the economic crisis that affects the country.
"There are insufficient schools, hospitals, decent housing, food and other indispensable social equipment. As a church we invite everyone to protect and save the innocence and beauty of the new generations so that in the future we have healthy citizens, builders of an Angola reconciled, happy and peaceful where all can live in peace and harmony", highlighted the episcopal conference.
