Africa-Press – Angola. The MPLA president acknowledged that the mandate that is now ending was difficult, above all, due to the constraints caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, but, “with the help of everyone, it was possible to carry out several actions for the benefit of the populations”.
João Lourenço said that of the five years of governance, at least two of them the country was practically at a standstill, due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. “I am referring to the worst moment we are experiencing here in Angola, with periods of confinement, in which people could not leave the house and go to work”, he clarified. However, despite almost everything being stopped, João Lourenço said that the Executive did not stop working, which is why he is managing to inaugurate, nowadays, several important infrastructures, such as schools, hospitals and other social facilities.
Fight Against Corruption
João Lourenço also referred to the fact that in this term of office there was a “radical turn” in terms of the management of public affairs, with the fight against corruption. He admitted that, despite the results obtained so far, there are still managers who insist on touch public affairs. “I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I didn’t make that statement. We have to assume that there are still managers who mess with the treasury, but not with as much shamelessness and lack of fear as was done in the past. Because, today, they know that they can even do it, but if they are caught, there will be no impunity”, he assured.
The country has already recovered many resources, but they are still insufficient, he said, adding that much more needs to be recovered. João Lourenço said that the water transfer system of the Cunene River, from the Cafu section, to supply the towns of Ombandja, Namacunde and Ndombondola, inaugurated on Monday, cost the State around US$137 million, a value that claimed to be far inferior to the one stolen from the country, by just one person, during the time of corruption and impunity.
“With the money stolen by a single person, you could make four to five Cafus”, he guaranteed. In order for the fight against corruption to continue to achieve good results, João Lourenço said it was necessary for every Angolan to be a police officer against evil. one of us is a policeman called and summoned by the Nation to fight corruption. If we think that this is the case, then we can be happy and say that the fight against corruption is almost won”, he clarified.
Good Business Environment
The MPLA leader pointed out that this mandate also made it possible to create, in the country, a good business environment for national and foreign private investors. Here, he highlighted the withdrawal of the State from business, clarifying that this is not its role. “The State does not do business, but it creates the conditions for private individuals to do business”, stressed João Lourenço, for whom the State has its own way of making money, which is through the taxes levied.
He added that the State should let the private sector work freely, fulfilling its role of producing goods and services and providing employment to citizens, particularly young people.
President João Lourenço said that this good business environment already has the recognition of international creditor organizations, such as the IMF, the World Bank and other organizations responsible for classifying the state of the world’s economies.
Economy Diversification
João Lourenço made it known that this mandate also allowed the beginning of the process of diversification of the economy, the results of which are already being seen. He pointed out that the announcement, a few days ago, of the growth of the Angolan economy at 0.7, last year, is proof of that. The President explained that this result was mainly due to the growth of the non-oil economy. “It has nothing to do with oil or gas. It has nothing to do with Sonangol”, he assured.
Contributed to this result, he said, the sector of Agriculture, Fisheries, the little tourism that is done in the country, the extractive industry, manufacturing and ornamental stones. “It means that the Executive supported by the MPLA has good policies to defend the economy and, consequently, to defend the citizen”.
The President stressed that it would not be possible to achieve this and other results if the country had not been at peace for 20 years, and therefore called for its preservation. “We must continue to preserve peace, because only in peace can we develop our country and fulfill our dreams,” he concluded.
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