Africa-Press – Angola. The Public Works Office presented, yesterday, in Luanda, within the framework of CIVICOP’s actions, the project for the construction of the “Memorial to Victims of Political Conflicts”, with the purpose of preserving the identity and honoring the people involved in these conflicts, in 1975 to 2002.
The Memorial will be built between the streets “Dr. António Agostinho Neto” and “Dack Doy”, in Praia do Bispo, at a cost of more than 25 million dollars. The building, designed by Fineza Teta, comprises nine floors, built in an architectural structure 35 meters high. Construction will involve at least 16 months.
According to the model, the monument, which will be made up of three main bodies, with an emphasis on Aliança Eterna, was designed to immortalize the historical journey of the victims and the trajectory of the process of national reconciliation, being a mark of excellence of reconciliation between all. Angolans, “symbol of peace, concord and forgiveness”.
In the presentation of the project, the information contained in the video of the projection of the Memorial, the building will include technical areas, souvenir shops, digital collection, a convention room and another for exhibitions, assisted by a wing that, with the use of new technologies, will make a chronological representation of the various conflicts.
The outside of the building will feature a petrified tree “Mulembeira”, 12 meters high and white, symbolizing peace, similar to the spaces found in villages, where the elders transmit to the younger ones their wisdom about conflict resolution.
The Minister of Justice and Human Rights said that the public presentation of the Memorial represents a special moment in memory of victims of political conflicts. Francisco Queiroz, who coordinates the Commission for the Implementation of the Reconciliation Plan in Memory of Victims of Political Conflicts (CIVICOP), stressed that the country is facing “a moment of soul and memory, so that in the future we have a place with this grandeur and symbolism , in order to remember the past and, above all, to avoid the mistakes made in this past.
Place Of Harmony And Reconciliation
The Memorial, which was initially planned to be built on the slopes of Boavista, was moved to the streets “Dr. António Agostinho Neto” and “Dack Doy”, in Praia do Bispo, under the guidance of the Holder of the Executive Power. “The choice was very good, and it is up to our responsibility, in terms of respect for the victims of political conflicts”, explained Francisco Queiroz.
The Reconciliation and Forgiveness Program, he stressed, is a commitment of President João Lourenço, since the beginning of his legislature, and it began with all these steps that culminated in the delivery of death certificates to the families, of the bones and, now, it follows the way to a more sublime moment.
For Minister Francisco Queiroz, the Memorial will be another point in the city of Luanda, where its inhabitants will enjoy a space for gardening, leisure and, above all, it will be a space for contemplation and remembrance of the memory of those who died. “It will also be a tourist spot, for the beauty of the monument, the grandeur and architectural creativity, being, therefore, a point of reference for the city”, he underlined.
Asked about demonstrations perpetrated by some family members who were, at the time, dissatisfied, the minister calmed down, saying that it is normal in a process like this. “Disagreements happen less and less frequently. When all projects start, especially of this nature, they are always the object of opinions that are not always coincident”, said Francisco Queiroz.
“As it is a project that had victims, and it is natural that there are contrary reactions”, he reiterated, stressing that “the purpose, from the beginning, was to reconcile all people, and to make them not remember the things evils of the past, to ward off feelings of revenge, retaliation, or otherwise prevent finger-pointing”.
The Minister of Justice and Human Rights admitted, by the way, that it is possible that there is one or the other who disagrees with the process, “it is natural and has to be respected, but nothing is the same as before”. consensus around the initiative of the President of the Republic, underlining the communion of ideas on forgiveness and national reconciliation among Angolans.
of the Commission, since its creation, recalled that the Memorial to the Victims of Political Conflicts marks the beginning of the 3rd phase of CIVICOP’s work, within the framework of reconciliation between Angolans.
“The inauguration of this imposing monument will be the culmination of a process of construction, stone by stone, of the great edifice of forgiveness and reconciliation among Angolans”, stressed the minister, adding, then: “Here will rest forever the memories of the victims of the political conflicts that took place in the country from 11 November 1975 to 4 April 2002”.
In this place of pilgrimage and pilgrimage, it emerged, the horrors of political conflicts will be remembered and we will pay tribute to their victims. “Here, we will make our promises so that there will never be victims of political conflicts in our country again”, he pointed out.
Still on the Commission, Francisco Queiroz recalled that after more than 50 plenary meetings, working meetings, debates, conferences and written and spoken opinions, over two years, it was possible to break taboos on topics that previously could not be addressed publicly, allowing the achievement of a psychological and emotional environment favorable to forgiveness and reconciliation between victims of political conflicts, both on the passive side and on the active side.
“On May 26, 2021, in a memorable speech to the Nation and to the world, President João Lourenço, on behalf of the Angolan State, apologized and apologized to the victims of political conflicts, especially those of May 27, where he announced the surrender of death certificates and mortal remains to the families”, emphasized the minister.
For his part, the engineer and director of the Special Works Office (GOE), Miguel Pinto da Cruz, explained that, so far, a series of steps have been completed, with emphasis on the two public tenders for the contracting of the conceptual and the elaboration of the executive project, submitted to CIVICOP for consideration.
After these stages, the Special Works Office opened another public tender, earlier this year to hire the contractor, whose process is still ongoing and will be completed next August.
As this is an election period, it is clear that the project will only be implemented after the elections, when the new government will take office.
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