Elections2022: Politicians and religious groups pray for elections

 Lobito - Several religious denominations and political parties prayed Sunday, in Benguela Province, in favour of peaceful elections on August 24.

In an ecumenical service, an initiative of the Provincial Commission of Churches for Benguela Province (COPIEB), the religious people pledged to work with all political parties, civil society and the government that will emerge from the upcoming elections, for the welfare of the people, its coordinator, pastor Higino Jorge said.

 

"We are in a phase in which each one wishes that the candidate of his party wins, but in case that doesn't happen we must have emotional balance, because elections are a political game in which only one can win", the pastor reminded.

 

Father António Francisco defended that the elections should run in the best way possible, that is with fairness and transparency, so that Angolans can see the results that come as the actual  will of the people.

 

For the second provincial secretary of the ruling MPLA in Benguela, António Kapewa Kalianguila, the ecumenical service is an opportunity for the union and solidarity of all Angolans, regardless of their ideas and interests, so that peace, as a common good, is safeguarded.

 

The provincial secretary of CASA-CE coalition, Martins Domingos, said that he left the cult more moralized from the spiritual point of view, since love for the neighbour and concord should prevail above group or individual interests.

 

The PRS representative, Horácio Abel, took the opportunity to appeal to the population to accept the result of the elections, regardless of who the winner will be.

 

With the exception of UNITA, which was not present, the politicians were aligned on the idea of citizens leaving the polling stations after exercising their civic duty, to avoid situations that could cause disturbances to the electoral process.

 

Religious denominations were present at the event including Catholics, Tocoistas, Kimbanguists, Methodists, members of CICA, IECA, IURD, and others.

 

The general elections on August 24 will elect the President of the Republic, the Vice President and the deputies (220 Mps).

 

At least eight political forces are running for the general elections, namely MPLA, UNITA, PRS, FNLA, APN, PHA and P-NJANGO parties and the CASA-CE coalition.

 

Roughly 14.3 million voters are expected to cast ballots on Wednesday.

Elections2022: Government decrees closure of markets on polling day

 Luanda - The Angolan government on Saturday ordered the closure of markets and fairs on Wednesday 24th August, which will be the polling day in Angola.

A joint decree from the ministries for Territorial Administration and for Trade and Industry said that the measure is extended to commercial establishments, which on Wednesday should give the necessary time off to their staff so that they can exercise their right to vote, even if they work on a shift system.

 

According to the document, the measure that is also extended to street and itinerant sales, aims to guarantee the massive participation of citizens on polling day.

 

“The markets and street fairs should open, exceptionally, on Monday, 22, in their normal opening hours”, states the decree that ANGOP has received.

 

For the voting process, roughly 14.3 million voters are expected to cast ballots. From tht number, 22,560 will vote from abroad (Angolans residing abroad), spread across 25 cities in 12 countries of Africa, Europe and South America.

 

This year 's elections count on the participation of eight political forces, namely MPLA, UNITA, PRS, FNLA, APN, PHA and P-NJANGO and the electoral coalition CASA-CE.

José Eduardo dos Santos’ funeral with no date set

 Luanda- The minister of Territory Administration, Marcy Lopes, said Saturday in Luanda, that with the arrival in Luanda of the corpse of the former Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos, the coming days will be reserved for the tackling administrative and protocol issues related to the funeral.

The minister made the statement to the press at Luanda’s 4 de Fevereiro International Airport, following the arrival of the remains of the former Angolan statesman, who died on July 8 in Spain.

 

Regarding the date of the funeral, the minister, who coordinates the commission for the organization of the exequies, said the process needs to be handled with care and attention, adding that the date for the funeral will be communicated soon.

 

José Eduardo dos Santos died at the age of 79 in a Barcelona hospital, where he had been hospitalized since June 23 following a cardiac arrest.

 

Jose Eduardo dos Santos’ remains are in this moment in his official residence in the Miramar neighborhood, in Luanda.

 

In the next hours, the former president’s remains will be under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health until the date of the funeral to be announced by government authorities.

 

Outcome in Court

On August 16 the Court of Catalonia (Spain) decided to deliver the body of the Former President of the Republic, José Eduardo dos Santos, to his wife, Ana Paula dos Santos, for his burial.

 

The decision was made after the judge received reports from the Forensic Medical Institute and the Toxicology Laboratory.

 

The document says that in the resolution the judge recognizes Ana Paula dos Santos as the widow of the former Angolan Head of State.

 

The deliberation gave the former first lady the custody of the body of the former Head of State to proceed with the translocation process.

 

Ana Paula dos Santos was the interlocutor of the Angolan government when her husband was interned in a clinic in Barcelona, where he died.

 

During the process, the former First Lady of the Republic had the support of the Angolan government.

 

The legal dispute over the custody of the body involved the widow and the eight children of the former President of the Republic, especially the three eldest who were opposed to the delivery and transfer of the body of the former Head of State.

 

The transfer of the remains from Barcelona to the Angolan capital was accompanied by the widow of the former statesman, Ana Paula dos Santos, her children, relatives and  Angolan government officials.

 

José Eduardo dos Santos came to office as President of the Republic in September 1979, following the death of António Agostinho Neto, Angola's first president, and was in office for 38 years, until he was succeeded by João Lourenço.