A group of 12 historical militants of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), including Roberto de Almeida, França Ndalu and Paulo Julião Mateus "Dino Matrosse", were honored with the Medal of Vanguard Militant, for their contribution to the party for decades.
The congress, which kicked off this Thursday under the motto "MPLA - For a More Developed, Democratic and Inclusive Angola" and ends on Saturday, with the election of the new president of the party - a place for which only candidate João Lourenço is running - is marked by the rejuvenation of its Central Committee, with a proposal of 35 percent of young people, aged between 18 and 35 years.
Speaking to Lusa news agency, Julião Mateus Paulo "Dino Matrosse", former secretary general of the MPLA, said that after decades of surrender to the national liberation struggle by the MPLA and permanence in the Central Committee since 1977, the time has come to "leave the places for the youngest".
Dino Matrosse underlined that he will continue to contribute by returning to the grassroots and providing his support whenever the party and other institutions deem it necessary.
To the young people who will now integrate the Central Committee, the veteran recommended that they follow the example of their predecessors, of those who fought for national independence.
Asked about the level of cohesion in the party, Dino Matrosse said he has heard that "the party has been disunited", admitting that "there may be one or the other discontented, it's normal".
"Even in our homes, seven or eight brothers, sometimes there are also problems at home, what is important is to have discernment" in order to find solutions for some things "that are not going very well", he stressed.
Urged to comment on the absence and the fact that no tribute was paid to the former party leader and MPLA president emeritus, José Eduardo dos Santos, the historic downplayed, arguing that he was ill and undergoing treatment, agreeing that it would be important your presence.
"I can't answer for the president. Yes, it would be [important to be present], he continues with the charisma he has within the party and outside the party, he continues with charisma. What we want to wish him is good health, may he be with us for a long, long time," he said.
In turn, França Ndalu, a deputy to the National Assembly and a former member of the MPLA's Political Bureau, asked young people who are joining a historic party, which has governed Angola since the beginning of independence and has fought for the country's liberation, which continue all the work and sacrifice done during this time.
"It's the young people who come in and who will also have to do the work that has already been done, in addition to a new job that will appear. That's why I only recommend that young people are willing to work, that they study - they need to learn - , who have knowledge of the entire history of the MPLA so that they can develop their work", he stressed.
On the cohesion of the party, he considered that the MPLA remains united and, although there may be differences of opinion, "it remains cohesive and ready to continue to be a winning party".
Regarding the absence of José Eduardo dos Santos from this congress, França Ndalu said he was not aware of the reasons, saying that the former leader "will always be important, not only in this congress, but important for the country".
"He was our second President of the Republic, he was the president of the party for many years, who sacrificed himself and who was also a president who ruled in the very difficult times of our country, during the war and is always an emeritus in our country, therefore, always respected and loved by our people", he stressed.
Roberto de Almeida, former MPLA vice president, expressed pride for having been part of the structure of the Central Committee for decades, completing this Friday 44 years as a member.
"It is with greater satisfaction that I leave and this satisfaction is even greater because there is recognition on the part of the party, the contribution I made and I think that it was not a completely satisfactory contribution, I also had failures, I also made mistakes several times, but it is important that come to term after 44 years and pass on my testimony to the new generation," he said.
Roberto de Almeida said he hopes that the young people who are now joining "manage to maintain the MPLA as a party that runs the Angolan nation, a party that is in the vanguard and manages to open the way, take the initiatives to lead the Angolan people to the best destinations."
For him, the human frame evidenced in this congress demonstrates the union within the party, looking naturally at the absence of the emeritus president of the MPLA in the conclave.
"I look at it naturally, like a militant who made an option. He chose not to participate in the congress, it is his right, the militants within the MPLA do not cease to have a will of their own, and according to the particular situation that President José Eduardo dos Santos is living at this moment, I believe it is of his own will not to participate in this congress, which does not mean that he is no longer a militant of the MPLA", he stressed.
