The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), in its declaration alluding to National Independence Day, which is celebrated on Saturday, 11 November, salutes all Angolans and reiterates its commitment to the establishment of a true democratic State and of law and genuine national reconciliation.
The party founded by Jonas Savimbi states that November 11, 1975 "was chosen by the co-signatories of the Alvor Agreement" – Portugal, FNLA (National Front for the Liberation of Angola), MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) and UNITA –, "as the date of the proclamation of Angola's independence".
According to UNITA, this historic act "would be the culmination" of an entire process that would, among others, be preceded by the holding of elections for the Constituent Assembly.
"This did not happen due to global historical circumstances that negatively influenced the ambition of one of the liberation movements (MPLA), which systematically violated the Alvor Agreement and in August 1975 militarily expelled the other two movements from Luanda", referred to in the declaration.
UNITA criticizes the MPLA for having "unilaterally" proclaimed, on 11 November 1975, independence which "was immediately recognized by some countries, but which, 48 years later, continues to fail to achieve the objective of Angolan nationalists, dignity for your people".
For the party, corruption and partisanship of State institutions "destroyed the dignity of the Angolan citizen".
The defense and permanent appeals for a democratic rule of law, for the market economy, for social peace, he highlights, "bring together the voices of UNITA and civil society organizations".
In its declaration commemorating 48 years of independence, the central event of which is scheduled for Saturday in the province of Lunda Sul, UNITA urges the Angolan people to unity of purpose and action in order to materialize "the institutionalization of local authorities".
The party argues that local authorities, whose final law in the legislative package has not yet been approved, must be institutionalized "simultaneously" as they are the "unavoidable path to development".
The executive secretariat of the Standing Committee of the UNITA Political Commission also reaffirms its "availability" to dialogue with all the country's living forces, on all components of national life, for the joint construction of a better Angola.
It also calls on Angolans to honor the memory of the fathers of independence, namely Álvaro Holden Roberto, Agostinho Neto and Jonas Malheiro Savimbi, and pays a "simple tribute to all the heroes and martyrs of the liberation struggle for independence and the conquest of democracy and peace".
The celebrations of the 48th anniversary of independence in Angola take place under the motto: "11 November: United for the Development of Angola".
