Africa-Press – Angola. The National Director for the Preservation of the Military Historical Legacy of the Ministry of National Defense, Former Combatants and Veterans of the Homeland, Lieutenant General Francisco Zangui Longa, called on Tuesday in Luanda, for the preservation of the achievements reached to date.
The general made the statement during Thematic Session 46, which had the theme “Magna Lecture on February 4th.” The session was organized by the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies, and Social Communication (MINTTICS) as part of the government’s program to strengthen relationship with citizens.
“The country is ours, and it is up to us to defend it, preserve its symbols, and honor its history,” said the lieutenant general, adding that independence is an inalienable heritage for present and future generations.
Addressing students, journalists, and opinion leaders in the Magna Lecture Hall, the general promoted patriotism through constructive criticism and finding solutions to the country’s challenges. He also appealed for an in-depth study of national history to preserve collective memory and strengthen patriotic identity.
He mentioned that February 4, 1961 marked the irreversible awakening of national consciousness and the beginning of the process that culminated in Angola’s independence.
The general recalled that the events of January 4 in Baixa de Cassange constituted one of the factors that intensified nationalist mobilization. Many survivors sought refuge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the time.
According to the director, colonial repression did not curb the feeling of revolt. On the contrary, it reinforced clandestine organizations and stimulated various forms of resistance that were not limited to the use of weapons.
“The struggle was not only waged with guns. There was poetry, writing, and music,” he emphasized, highlighting the role of protest songs and cultural manifestations in raising awareness among Angolans.
The lieutenant general also mentioned that the arrests of nationalists accused of inciting the political consciousness of the Angolan people intensified between 1958 and 1959.
“Many were imprisoned in São Paulo Prison and other facilities, at risk of transfer to the Tarrafal Camp in Cape Verde,” he recalled.
According to the high-ranking officer, the attack on the prisons on February 4, 1961, aimed to prevent this transfer and free the political prisoners. This is why the municipality of Cazenga stood out as the epicenter of organizing the action.
The general also spoke about the Alvor Accords, signed in 1975, which established the transitional government and the mechanisms that led to the proclamation of national independence on November 11, 1975.
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