"I salute and thank the gesture of the President of the Republic, José Maria Neves, in awarding this distinction to Agostinho Neto's companion, as he has shown himself to be a leader with a broad vision of history and a clear perspective of the future. This distinction unites the peoples of Cape Verde, Angola and Portugal", said Eugénia Neto, after being decorated, in the city of Praia, with the Order Amílcar Cabral, second degree, on the day the country celebrates 48 years of independence from Portugal, in 1975.
At a time when she noted that "amazing times" are being lived, with attempts to "rewrite the truth of history", the former first lady of Angola said, therefore, that it is relevant to revisit her life, "as soon as possible" that the ceremony requires.
"My life was, in short, a fight for love and for the homeland. I fought for the love of Agostinho Neto, my children and Angola. I fought to free men, women and children", he recalled, emphasizing that he faced racism in Portugal and Africa, but never gave up or abandoned the fight.
"I was the white woman with a 'black soul', as the PIDE-DGS [the political police of the Estado Novo regime] used to say. I was the white woman who was married to the guerrilla leader and I was the first lady of the Republic of Angola", said Maria Eugénia Neto, sharing the distinction with the generation of Agostinho Neto, Amílcar Cabral, Marcelino dos Santos, Samora Machel.
"And I hand it over to my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, so that they continue to fight for the happiness and well-being of humanity", concluded the Angolan writer.
On his turn, the President of the Republic of Cape Verde, José Maria Neves, highlighted the fact that Agostinho and Amílcar Cabral had assumed the responsibility of symbolically and politically founding the Angolan and Cape Verdean Nations.
"But in this moment of companionship we had a hand that always knew how to caress the spirit of this struggle for the liberation of Angola and Cape Verde, and Eugénia Neto was always at the forefront of this fight, with a lot of affection, with a lot of commitment, so that the seeds thrown into the ground could germinate and we could, in 1975, ascend to the independence of Cape Verde and Angola", described Neves.
The Cape Verdean head of state thanked Maria Eugénia Neto for her contribution to the liberation struggle in Angola, Cape Verde and the African continent, but also for her "permanent combat" with the writing of chronicles, poems, books that tell children and to future generations the "enormous deed" of liberation.
On the same occasion, the former Prime Minister of Tanzania and former Secretary General of the Organization of African Union (OAU), Salim Ahmed Salim, was also awarded the Order of Amical Cabral, first degree, which was received by his son.
"Receive these medals as a symbol of our friendship, our gratitude, but above all our commitment to continue to maintain access to the torch of this fight that is permanent, for a much better Africa", addressed Neves, who also decorated several organizations and personalities connected to the defense of the environment.
