Africa-Press – Angola. The governor of Cuando Cubango, José Martins, Wednesday asked the ambassador of the United Kingdom for more funding to speed up the demining process, to boost the tourist sector of the Okavango-Zambeze Transfrontier Conservation project.
José Martins made this request during the courtesy meeting he held with the British ambassador to Angola, Roger Stringer, who has been in Cuando Cubango since this Tuesday, to verify “in loco” the demining process under way in the province, in charge of of the British NGO The Halo Trust, on a three-day visit.
On the occasion, the minister informed the diplomat that Cuando Cubango, the second largest in Angola, with 199,049 square meters, has 54 minefields in some municipalities without funding for their clearance, which has made it difficult to implement social impact projects, to improve the quality of life of the population.
He referred that Cuando Cubango is part of the provinces included in the Okavango-Zambeze regional project, through the municipalities of Cuito Cuanavale, Mavinga, Rivungo and Dirico, which were heavily affected throughout the historical course of the war that ravaged Angola.
He highlighted the investments that the United Kingdom has been granting to the NGO The Halo Trust for demining, but that more funding is still needed for demining, especially in the KAZA project, where the Angolan government has already invested US$60 million, with a view to clarifying than 150 minefields, of which 20 are already being cleared.
José Martins defends that, with more areas free of mines, Cuando Cubango will register advances in the development of tourism, as well as in the promotion of agricultural and livestock activities, aiming, in this way, to combat hunger and poverty.
On the occasion, the governor launched a challenge to the ambassador in order to attract more investors from the United Kingdom and other partners to Cuando Cubango, due to the great opportunities that the province offers in agribusiness, tourism, exploration of mineral resources, forestry and projects of environment conservation.
UK pledges support to Cuando Cubango government
For his part, Ambassador Roger Stringer assured, in response to the concerns raised by the governor, that his country’s government is working to clarify the fields that still exist in the country and in the province of Cuando Cubango, in particular.
The diplomat referred that the UK government and other donors are very committed to this demining process in this region of the country, as well as learning more about the potential of the province, due to its ecological importance in the KAZA project, as well as its potential in the mining sector. tourism.
He informed that the British government, in the last 20 years, has already financed more than 15 million pounds for the demining process in Angola, and for this year 2023 it has already invested more than 1 million pounds, for the same program at country.
This Thursday (19th), the ambassador will, together with members of the government, assess the demining process underway in Cuito Cuanavale, 189 kilometers east of Menongue, a task carried out by The Halo Trust.
It should be noted that the NGO The Halo Trust started the demining process in Cuando Cubango in 2002, having, since this period, already cleared 163 fields, as well as controlling 57 active fields and another 185 to be cleared across the province.
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