Africa-Press – Angola. The provincial governor of Malanje, Marcos Nhunga, today reiterated the Executive’s commitment to improving social conditions in the Baixa de Cassanje Region, with a view to giving greater dignity to the population and honoring the victims of the colonial repression of January 4, 1961.
Speaking to the press, after laying a wreath in Jardim da Liberdade, in reference to the 4th of January, Day of the Martyrs of the Colonial Repression of Baixa de Cassanje, the governor said that actions are underway to restore access roads, expand water systems, construction of schools and health units.
The extension of the electricity network in that region has progressed in the near future, in order to provide quality of life for the citizens of Baixa de Cassanje, which in Malanje comprises the municipalities of Quela, Kunda-dya-Base, Marimba, Cahombo, Massango and Kiwaba Nzoji.
On the other hand, Marcos Nhunga said that one of the government’s priorities is the construction of the Teka Dya Kinda Memorial, with a view to honoring the martyrs of colonial repression.
Regarding the date (January 4th), he made it known that it constitutes an inescapable milestone in the country’s history, as it boosted the fight for independence from the colonial yoke, hence the need for common engagement in favor of its valorization and preservation.
In turn, the director of the Provincial Office of Former Combatants and Veterans of the Fatherland, Ananias Gomes, said work is underway to identify survivors of the Baixa de Cassanje massacre, so that they can give their testimony and help tell the story.
According to the source, there are many elders in the villages, but they were teenagers at the time and did not directly participate in the revolt. However, he assured that the search for survivors will continue.
Along with the laying of wreaths, the 4th of January in Malanje was marked with a debate on the incidence of the massacre in Baixa de Cassanje.
On January 4, 1961, the Portuguese colonial authorities massacred thousands of Angolan peasants, in what went down in history as the Baixa de Cassanje Massacre, a territory located between the provinces of Malanje and Lunda Norte, for claiming the low prices charged by the Company. Cotton General (Cotonang) in the purchase of cotton, in addition to the mistreatment meted out by the regime at the time.
The Baixa de Cassanje region covers six municipalities in the province of Malanje (Quela, Kunda-dya-Base, Marimba, Cahombo, Massango and Kiwaba Nzoji) and five in Lunda Norte (Xá Muteba, Cuango, Capenda Camulemba, Ula and Lubalo).
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