During a visit to the historic ruins of Cambambe and the village of Massangano, the Portuguese diplomat "advocated for the valorization of heritage and suggested that the historical-cultural complex be proposed to UNESCO as a World Heritage Site."
The ambassador also highlighted the "tremendous value" of this area, stating that Portugal can "mobilize support" to boost new life in the region.
"This territory has tremendous value. In Portugal, with the Camões Institute and foundations like the Gulbenkian Foundation, we can mobilize support, in addition to supporting the nomination process with UNESCO," he noted, quoted in a statement from the government of the province of Cuanza Norte, seen by VerAngola.
Recalling "an ancestor's time in Cambambe, where, in the 19th century, he served a political sentence," Francisco Alegre Duarte also highlighted "the role of tourism as a potential economic hub for the region, highlighting the need to combine efforts in areas such as security, staff training, and infrastructure renovation."
According to the ambassador, Angola has "enormous heritage wealth." "Angola is a country with enormous heritage wealth. It needs to be valued and paved the way for international tourism," he stated.
Furthermore, Francisco Alegre Duarte also expressed admiration for the region's historical legacy.
"During the guided tour, with the support of the Chief General of Massangano and historian Edigar Marcolino, the Portuguese diplomat expressed deep admiration for the region's historical legacy," emphasizing the importance of the Kwanza corridor—which includes Cambambe, Massangano, and Dondo—as a "true highway to the interior of Angola," before and after the arrival of the Portuguese, "playing a decisive role in phenomena such as mining, the spread of Christianity, and agricultural development."
In addition to expressing his country's willingness to collaborate with Angola to make the most of this town, the ambassador also expressed his willingness to promote this site to the Portuguese community to promote tourism. However, he recommended further investment by local authorities to improve access roads, as well as the construction of more hotel and other infrastructure necessary for local economic growth, writes Angop.
In turn, the governor of Cuanza Norte, João Diogo Gaspar, "reinforced the importance of the partnership with Portugal, highlighting the province's role in welcoming tourists, the symbolic value of historic sites, and the need to preserve the authentic features of these structures."
Quoted in the statement, the governor also argued that "Angola's history must be told with truth and pride," recalling that Massangano is "the annual pilgrimage site for more than 30,000 faithful and that the province has been a destination for tourists from various parts of the world."
"Angola was not discovered – there has always been a resilient people here. Today, we enjoy a brotherly relationship with Portugal, and we are open to working together to preserve heritage, provide technical training, and attract investment," said João Diogo Gaspar.
On his Facebook page, João Diogo Gaspar wrote that the ambassador's visit to Cuanza Norte came at a special time.
"This visit to our province comes at a special time, as we are celebrating 50 years of independence and are also undertaking actions aimed at renovating and giving greater dignity to this historic and tourist town in our land," reads the publication, which VerAngola had access to.
"Portugal and Angola share a common history. This visit by the Portuguese diplomat to Massangano clearly demonstrates the importance the Portuguese state attaches to this region and the contribution that the men who came from here made to the development of the various countries to which they were transported, including Portugal," he wrote, adding: "It is a moment of unity and recognition of the history and ties that unite us. It is a time to join hands, strengthen relations, and work for the benefit of the people of both nations."
According to the provincial government of Cuanza Norte, the Portuguese ambassador visited the historic ruins of Cambambe and the centuries-old town of Massangano this Tuesday.
The provincial governor accompanied Francisco Duarte Alegre on this visit, which is part of "the strengthening of historical and cultural cooperation relations between Angola and Portugal, at a time marked by the approaching celebrations of the 50th anniversary of national independence."
"At the end, both delegations reaffirmed their commitment to developing synergies in the areas of tourism, culture, and education, with a focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation and promoting shared memory," the statement read.
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