"After the end of this congress, we will immediately hold a meeting of the Central Committee, to adjust to the great challenges that we will have to face, rejuvenating the political bureau and its secretariat", said João Lourenço in the opening speech of the VIII extraordinary congress of the Popular Movement of Angola (MPLA), which began this Monday in Luanda, with more than 2700 delegates, with an end scheduled for Tuesday.
The MPLA political bureau, the body responsible for adjusting the party's strategies, particularly its internal organization, is made up of 101 members, including names such as Bornito de Sousa, Carlos Feijó, Bento Bento, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, Isaac do Anjos, João "Jú" de Almeida Martins, João Ernesto dos Santos "Liberdade", Jorge Dombolo, Irene Neto, António Pitra Neto, Noberto dos Santos "Kwata Kanawa", Mário Pinto de Andrade, Archer Mangueira, among others, from the old party guard.
Still internally, João Lourenço said that they will continue to exercise and deepen internal democracy, respecting the role and competencies of the management bodies elected at the most different levels of the party hierarchy, in accordance with the statutes.
"Our focus will continue to be on helping and guiding the executive to implement the different programs to satisfy the needs of the citizen, in line with what Agostinho Neto [MPLA president] said as it remains current, "The Most Important is to Solve the Problems of People", said the President of the Republic.
The congress has on its agenda a reflection on the 50 years of independence that Angola celebrates next year, and the adjustment to the party's statutes.
"This is an Extraordinary Congress that will debate and approve the thesis 'MPLA - From Independence to Our Days - The Challenges of the Future' and make adjustments to the party's statutes, something that will happen for the sixth time in an extraordinary congress of our party, which demonstrates the MPLA's ability to monitor and permanently adapt to the dynamics of the party's own internal life, society and the international situation", said João Lourenço when speaking.
The President of the Republic also said that it is with the MPLA "that the country is experiencing a major program of national reconstruction and construction of new infrastructure such as ports, airports, roads, hydroelectric dams, photovoltaic solar energy parks, transmission lines, collection stations and water supply, school and hospital establishments throughout the country and at all levels".
João Lourenço then listed several of the party's achievements in governing Angola internally and also in terms of external relations, mentioning "greater credibility with international financial and credit institutions", and highlighting the recent visit of the president of the United States of America, Joe Biden.
"Which makes us all very proud because of what this means for the image of Angola and the prospects for attracting foreign private investment and the possibility for Angolan businesspeople to invest in the American market", he stressed.
For João Lourenço, North American engagement and financing in the Lobito Corridor, "a safer, faster and cheaper infrastructure for transport, logistics and world trade, will contribute to food security, transition and global energy security and, consequently, to combat climate change and its consequences".
