Guarantees judges take office in May

 Luanda – At least 158 judges responsible for setting bail will take up their duties from the 2nd of May next, in the country.

The issue was analysed Friday in Luanda during a meeting that gathered president of the Superior Council for the Judiciary Joel Leonardo, the Minister of the Interior Eugénio Laborinho, the Attorney General Hélder Pitta Groz and the chairman of the Angolan Bar Association (OAA), Luís Monteiro.

According to the spokesperson for the judiciary council, Correia Bartolomeu, of the 158 judges, Luanda province will have 49.

Of this number, 21 will go to the district court of Belas and 28 for Luanda.

The other provinces will have between two and eight judges, depending on the procedural mobility of each one, explained Correia Bartolomeu.

However, he acknowledged the possibility of appointing new guarantees judges in the future to ensure procedural speed and respect for the rights of detainees.

The official pointed out, among the powers of the guarantee judge, that of enacting preventive or house arrest during the investigation phase of the criminal process, a role formerly restricted to a prosecutor.

Port of Luanda presents development plan to IGAPE

 Luanda – The Port of Luanda presented Friday to the Institute of Asset Management and Share of State (IGAPE) the new development plan that foresees the creation and construction of one more terminal and a shipyard.

The construction of one more infrastructure will increase the container cargo from 800, 000 to 3 million on annually basis.

According to Master Plan for the next 20 years, the LordLandPort provides for the  improve and modernisation of existing terminals, an investment by the operators themselves.

This development plan, in addition to the creation of another terminal, also provides for the construction of a cabotage pier and a pier bridge for cruise ships.

Construction of the passenger terminal, maritime port control tower for vessels, are in progress.

Underway are also the construction of a video surveillance circuit, rehabilitation of the maritime signaling system, as well as the construction of an electrical substation to respond to the projections of the plan.

Speaking to the press, on the sidelines of the IGAPE visit, the CEO of Port of Luanda, Alberto Bengue, said that the “LordLandPort” management model represents the organisation of the port, where there are practically no heavy investments by the State.

European diplomats learn about Cabinda's potential

 Cabinda - A delegation of diplomats from member countries of the European Union (EU) are since Thursday in northern Cabinda Province to learn more about the socio-economic and political development of the region.

Led by Ambassador Jeannette Seppen, head of the European Union mission in Angola, the delegation met with the Cabinda deputy governor for political and social affairs, Miguel dos Santos Oliveira.

From the local governor, they received information on the economic potential and the structuring projects underway, with emphasis on the Port of Cabinda and the local Refinery.

Miguel dos Santos Oliveira welcomed the delegation, having highlighted the political stability that has allowed good levels of growth in various sectors of socio-economic and political life, namely agriculture, fisheries, health, energy and water.

Jeannete Seppen, on her turn, said the visit to the city of Cabinda was part of the annual activities of this mission in Angola, which each year defines a province to visit and observe its socio-economic and political development. 

The EU diplomat added that this year the delegation went to Cabinda, like other provinces that have already been visited, such as Huila and Cunene, to learn about its development, its potential in various economic, social and tourism areas and to meet with civil society and opposition parties represented in the region.

For two days, the ambassadors and minister-counsellors from the diplomatic representations of Belgium, Spain, France, Hungary, Portugal, Poland, Romania and Finland will visit the Caio Port Terminal of the Port of Cabinda.

Early in March, Jeannete Seppen was in Cabinda where she announced that in May this year a Business Forum would be held in the city of Benguela (country’s centre-west), with the aim to encourage investment from European companies and businesspeople in Angola.

 The European Union and Angola have a strong partnership in the economic, political and cooperation areas, which has attracted more European companies and businesspeople to invest in Angola.

ZEE, AJEPC sign memorandum to attract investors

 Talatona - Luanda Bengo Special Economic Zone (ZEE) and the Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Portugal and China (AJEPC) signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in the fields of attracting Portuguese-speaking entrepreneurs to invest in Angola.

The memorandum also provides for the creation of joint efforts and foresees the sharing of experiences to support entrepreneurs in doing business and coveying know-how.

Speaking to the press on Thursday, ahead of ongoing "FIN Business Forum Angola", the ZEE CEO, Manuel Pedro, said he believes that in the next three years they will be able to bring Portuguese-speaking businesspeople from Brazil, Portugal, Cabo Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea-Bissau and Macau.

In turn, AJEPC counterpart, Alberto Carvalho Neto, considered it a “great honour” to maintain a very active cooperation in the coming years to bring “the highest number” of entrepreneurs from the European Union (EU) to be able to know the ZEE, invest, create links and open paths to cooperation.

The FIN Business Forum Angola is part of a larger project that intends to have Lusophony as the basis for connecting continents.

The project, promoted since 2017 by AJEPC, focuses on creating a continuous network connecting continents, allowing all participants to expand their network of contacts and businesses in a cyclical way every year.

Minister Francisco Furtado calls on young people for decent, patriotic behavior

 Luanda - The Minister of State and Head of the Military Affairs Office to the President of the Republic Francisco Pereira Furtado recommended Friday in Luanda the youth to be guided by a decent and patriotic conduct, as part of the norms and laws in force in the country.

Francisco Furtado said it was urgent the youth comply with this conduct in order to preserve the gains achieved in the country, such as the peace and national reconciliation.

"As young people are the guarantors of peace and stability in the country, it is within them that the leaders are forged who ensure the continuity of development programmes and strategies", stated the Minister of State at a conference to mark 21 years of peace and national reconciliation, celebrated on April 4.

The recommendation extends to the military, who must be guided by the good performance of the functions entrusted to them

He recalled that the future of Angola depends on the foundations that the current generation is building, fundamentally in the education system, health, among others.

In his speech, Francisco Furtado spoke of the sacrifices endured by Angolans to gain independence, ensure territorial integrity and maintain national unity.

 

On the other hand, the Minister of State highlighted the structural and social development of the country, recorded in the last 21 years.

He pointed out great transformations in various sectors of activity, including construction (infrastructures), social, sports, cultural and economic sectors.

On April 4, 2002, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Angolan Government and UNITA, which put an end to the armed
conflict in the country.

Heavy rains kill 50 people in Angola

 Luanda – At least 54 people have been killed and more than 450 injured over the last day in Angola as result of the heavy rains that hit various part of the country’s regions, the president ‘s aide has said.

Taking stock of the consequences of the bad weather, the minister of State and Head of the Military Affairs Office to the President of the Republic, Francisco Furtado, said the figures presented are still provisional and the consequences are incalculable.

 

The heavy rains that have fallen over the past 30 days throughout the national territory have already affected around 44,000 people and more than 4,380 houses have been damaged in Luanda, Francisco Furtado stated.

 

He recalled that the main causes are the economic and social vulnerabilities of the populations, a high degree of exposure to risks, the disorderly occupation of land, the multiple deficiencies of urban infrastructure, as well as the non-respect of construction codes of accommodations.

 

The President’s aide said that in addition to the measures to mitigate the situation, the Executive, in addition to the alleviation measures, will take others to discourage all those who, through administrative disobedience, continue to put their lives in danger.

 

On the other hand, he said that the municipal administrations will work to shelter the victims in a safe place.

 

Emergency plan

 

According to Francisco Furtado, the situation is critical and requires urgent measures to be taken, namely the emergency plan on which the executive is currently working for its implementation as early as next week.

 

He explained that under this plan, among other things, conditions are created, such as the acquisition of materials to support the victims, materials for housing, clothing, food and assistance.