Africa-Press – Angola. The episcopal ordination of the first Angolan apostolic nuncio, Germano Penemote, titular archbishop of Treia and apostolic nuncio to Pakistan, constitutes one of the most notable events in the province of Cunene this past year.
Born in the town of Ondobe, commune of Môngua (Cunene), Dom Penemote is the only Angolan to reach the highest point of Vatican diplomacy, a feat that dignifies the actions of Angolans, particularly the Catholic Church.
At the time, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, highlighted that the mission constitutes a great challenge for the church, due to the fact that Pakistan is a country where the majority of the population is Muslim.
In the political and governmental arena, a highlight was the first visit by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, to the municipality of Cuvelai, where he assessed the state of execution of the works on the Ndúe and Calucuve dams, which aim to combat the drought in Cunene.
With the implementation of projects in lots 2 and 3, it is expected to store 245 million cubic meters of water for the population, livestock and agricultural activities.
The Head of State recalled, at the time, that this is an extensive program, started with the Cafu Project, in Ombadja and Cuanhama, the Ndue, Calucuve (in the Cuvelai) and Cova do Leão dams, located on the right bank of the Cunene River, in Cahama.
In the field of security and territorial integrity, in 2023 Cunene gained the first technological border control and surveillance system in the country, installed in the town of Santa Clara, a border area with the Republic of Namibia.
The center, which has nine computers and 10 operators, works with radar and electronic cameras in combined communication systems.
With a 16 meter high tower, viewing cameras up to 27 km away and radar that reaches 30 km, it will allow the detection and confirmation of any type of crime on the border perimeter and provide real-time information to operators.
In addition to the radiotechnical command post, there are mobile posts, drones, detention systems and other means that will be integrated into the hybrid platform, adding technologies and generating information in real time.
Another highlight of the year was the completion and equipping of the works on the future General Hospital of Ondjiva, with an inpatient capacity of 220 beds, expected to come into operation in the first quarter of 2024.
The hospital unit, valued at 52 million euros (including equipment), will have four inpatient units, an equal number of operating rooms, a blood bank, psychiatric hospitalization and eight residences for doctors.
It will provide various services, such as pediatrics, obstetrics, endoscopy, biology, ophthalmology, stomatology, emergency care, minor surgeries, X-ray, CT scan and psychiatry.
The building replaced the old General Hospital, destroyed in October 2020, following a fire in the surgery area and the oxygen storage station.
In the field of education, Cunene gained the first private higher education institution, Instituto Superior Universitário Rei Luhuna, which will make up for the lack of training offered, causing the flight of staff to other regions.
The start of the ISURL academic year made it possible to increase the training offer, since Cunene only had the Higher Institute attached to the Mandume Ya Ndemofayo University with a rectory in Lubango (Huíla).
Along this path, 1,500 students are enrolled in Law, Psychology, Sociology, Management and Financial Accounting courses.
It has 36 classrooms, but only 20 will be used during the day and after work. It also has computer and clinical and criminal psychology laboratories, a fully equipped mock court room and an amphitheater.
In another area, chess player from the province of Cunene Renelsa António revalidated the National Individual Junior Women’s Chess Championship, in the under-18 and 20 categories, which took place from the 1st to the 8th of August, in Huíla.
The 18-year-old athlete, from Escola René Castillo, accumulated 6.7 points on the “board”, in seven rounds, with six wins and one draw, the result of nine rounds played.
Cunene also participated in the competition with six athletes and obtained third place with chess player Rosalina Mutumbulua, with five points, among 11 competitors.
In the men’s category, the champion was Luther Santos, 17 years old, from Ditrov-Luanda, accumulating 7.5 points on the board, with seven wins, one draw and one defeat, in a contest between 32 athletes.
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