The concerns were expressed during a meeting held in Cuito, Bié province, between representatives of civil society and a delegation of European Union ambassadors accredited in Angola, who are visiting the provinces of Huambo and Bié to monitor projects linked to the railway and logistics corridor, one of the priorities of European cooperation with Angola.
Moisés Festo, project coordinator at the Development Workshop (DW), warned of the need to align Angolan legislation with community protection instruments, stressing that "no one should be left behind".
"The aim is to reinforce the existence of instruments that guarantee that any project that is implemented takes into account the rights of communities, especially when there is a risk of land allocation", he stated.
The official argued that investments promoted by the European Union must be aligned with international commitments to protect vulnerable populations. "We want to reinforce the existence of instruments promoted by the European Union that ensure the harmonization of the national legislative package with international standards for the protection of rural communities", he stressed.
Among the points considered critical is also the social responsibility of the companies involved.
"Every company that comes to explore or invest in the Lobito Corridor must take into consideration the real needs of the population, in order to avoid creating sources of tension and social conflicts", he appealed.
Moisés Festo also considered it essential that the hiring of labor gives priority to the local population.
"If there is a need for qualified labor that does not exist in the community, then it can be sought outside. But what can be done locally, should be done with the communities."
On the other hand, he considered it necessary to have more publicity about the project, as there is "concern about what will happen to the lands that are within the Lobito Corridor area", he said.
João Misselo da Silva, development consultant for the Angolan Chamber of Business Development, considered that the concrete effects of the corridor are not yet visible, but highlighted the "political will of the Government of Angola, the European Union and other partners to create a mass of investment".
For the consultant, the success of the corridor will depend on creating conditions that attract investors and promote good governance.
"It is necessary to work to improve legal mechanisms in order to guarantee legal certainty for those who want to invest in Angola", he argued.
Misselo also considered it essential that communities be involved in the identification and formulation of projects so that they can "appropriate knowledge, participate in planning and integrate implementation, so that the projects are sustainable and adjusted to local realities."
The delegation led by the European Union representation in Angola is promoting a three-day visit to monitor the main investments in the Lobito Corridor, an infrastructure that crosses Angola from the Atlantic coast to the Democratic Republic of Congo, considered strategic for the flow of minerals and integration with other transport corridors in Africa.
The visit includes meetings with local authorities, representatives of the business sector and civil society organizations in the provinces of Huambo and Bié.
