"The lack of specifics on the decentralization of power is both familiar and disappointing, and perhaps points to a government that has little to gain from implementing the process," the analysts write in a commentary on João Lourenço's inauguration speech to the second presidential term last week.
"The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola [UNITA] had the best electoral result so far and will seek to use its 90 seats in the National Assembly to force the necessary legislative changes to make municipal elections a reality", consider the analysts.
In the comment sent to customers, which Lusa had access to, Oxford Economics says that the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA, in power) will "probably use the 124 seats in parliament to try to thwart the process", which has been postponed due to lack of conditions on the ground.
In the general analysis of João Lourenço's speech, analysts consider that there was little news, "with the exception perhaps of his commitment to continue with economic reforms and the impetus against corruption, together with the promise to deepen the involvement with traditional authorities". .
The President reiterated on October 15, in his State of the Nation speech, the commitment to the creation of municipalities, without advancing dates, and announced the construction of 35 assemblies for local authorities and residential complexes in 36 municipalities.
The clarification on this issue was one of the most awaited in João Lourenço's speech, which marked the opening of the parliamentary year in Angola, after the head of the executive assumed again the commitment to institutionalize local authorities, in case his party won the elections held on the 24th of August.
With the municipal legislative package practically completed, João Lourenço reiterated the intention to institutionalize the municipalities, stressing that the lack of infrastructure for future municipalities must be resolved
Therefore, and taking into account that one of the main difficulties for several municipalities is the establishment of staff in their territory, especially those in the most remote locations, the construction of residential complexes in 36 municipalities is already underway, as well as 35 assemblies for the local authorities.
For UNITA, João Lourenço's speech was a "set of statistics that the country denies" because aspects that are "a real emergency for the country were not even minimally addressed".
Adalberto Costa Júnior added, in the reply to João Lourenço's speech on the State of the Nation, that the President's message was long, as usual, but did not reflect the real state of the country.
For the opposition leader, the President described "a country without problems due to the number of well-executed programs".
