The contract signing ceremony for the rehabilitation and modernization of the iconic ship 'Zaire,' which took place Monday morning, was "attended by the municipal administrator of Lobito, Carlos Pacatolo, and the presidents of the Boards of Directors of the project's sponsoring entities: António Cabral, of CFB – Caminhos-de-Ferro de Benguela, Celso Rosas, of the Port of Lobito, and the representative of the Aparthotel Aurora Group," according to a statement from the Lobito Municipal Administration, that VerAngola had access to.
The project is being carried out by the company WHED Angola. "WHED Angola will be responsible for executing the works and guarantees that it will commit itself diligently to meeting the deadlines established in the contract," the statement reads.
The project will cost approximately 176,285,570 kwanzas, with half of the budget being covered by the Lobito Municipal Administration and the remaining 50 percent being split between the CFB and the Port of Lobito (25 percent each), according to Angop.
According to the municipal administration, this rehabilitation represents a "significant step" toward preserving "historical memory."
"The rehabilitation of the ship 'Zaire' represents a significant step in preserving historical memory and strengthening the cultural identity of the city of Lobito and Angola," the statement reads.
In statements at the ceremony, municipal administrator Carlos Pacatolo indicated that this project aims to "restore dignity" to the ship.
"This project aims to restore dignity to the 'Zaire' ship and make it part of the celebrations of Angola's 50th anniversary of independence. We want anyone visiting Lobito to be sure to experience this ship, with a new look and new purposes serving historical memory and the promotion of local tourism," he said.
According to the official, quoted by Angop, the rehabilitated vessel is expected to be delivered on November 10th, the eve of the 50th anniversary of national independence.
In turn, Celso Rosas, Chairman of the Port of Lobito, said they intend to establish this ship as "a tourist attraction and a collective memory of the city of Lobito."
"We want to create a multipurpose space, capable of hosting exhibitions, educational activities, cultural events aimed at youth, and guided tours. We intend to establish the 'Zaire' ship as a tourist attraction and a collective memory of the city of Lobito," he said.
Quoted by Angop, Celso Rosas considered it to be yet another "tourist and cultural delight," where visitors, especially students, can learn about the country's recent history.
According to the Lobito Municipal Administration, "historical data indicates that the ship 'Zaire' played a symbolic role in the national liberation struggle, having been used to transport former President José Eduardo dos Santos and six other companions to Congo Léopoldville (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), where they joined the People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA), the armed wing of the MPLA."
"Inaugurated as a floating library on November 15, 2000, the 'Zaire' operated as a reading and cultural space until mid-March 2017, with a staff of five librarians and guides. Since then, it has been abandoned, lacking maintenance and appreciation commensurate with its historical and cultural importance as a heritage of all Angolans," the municipal administration's statement also reads.
