Africa-Press – Angola. The State and society still owe a patriotic and honorable debt to the former fighters and veterans of the country, for the services and the determining role played during the national liberation struggle.
This statement was made by the Minister of National Defense, Former Combatants and Veterans of the Fatherland, João Ernesto dos Santos “Liberdade”, when he was speaking, in the city of Cuito, province of Bié, in the central event of the celebrations of the 63rd anniversary of the Day of the Expansion of Struggle of National Liberation, which (March 15th) is marked.
In the ruler’s view, although they enjoy special protection under the terms of the Constitution of the Republic of Angola and the Law, the State and Angolan society still owe a patriotic and honorable debt to this social fringe, for everything they have done to the achievement of national independence and defense of the homeland.
He called on all Angolans, proud to be independent, sovereign and masters of their destiny, to assume this debt.
“Faced with this challenging situation, often misunderstood by some sensibilities and regardless of personal differences, political-ideological options and religious confessions, we must unite synergies, strengthen the fight against bad practices in the management of public affairs, fight for development and socioeconomic growth of the country, strengthen the democratic rule of law and fight for human dignity”, he added.
He said that the celebrations of the 15th of March constitute a fair collective tribute to all the combatants of the national liberation struggle, who, from an early age, gave the best of their youth, gave themselves body and soul, without looking at the sacrifice, without measuring consequences and contributed to the realization of the secular dream of the Angolan people.
Minister João Ernesto dos Santos “Liberdade” reiterated the commitment of the Angolan Government to continue, despite financial difficulties, to make efforts to implement the program to improve the lives of those assisted, through the implementation of a set of assistance actions social and economic integration of this group.
He called for solidarity and participation from other actors in national life, aiming to create the necessary conditions for the social dignification of this fringe of society.
Agricultural Fair marks celebrations
The celebrations of the 63rd anniversary of the Day of the Expansion of the National Liberation Struggle were marked with an exhibition of rural products, produced by cooperatives of former combatants and veterans of the country, as well as former military personnel from the nine municipalities that make up the Bié province.
The products included beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes and vegetables, among other products.
Minister João Ernesto dos Santos “Liberdade”, accompanied by the governor of Bié, Pereira Alfredo, and other members of his delegation, visited each of the stands, where he learned about the production levels and productivity of the cooperatives of those assisted, as a result of the policies that the Angolan Government has implemented, aiming at their reintegration and social integration.
The 15th of March 1961 was established on the 10th of August 2018, following the approval, by the Angolan Parliament, of the Proposed Law to Amend the Law on National Holidays, Places and Dates of National Celebration.
The anniversary serves to remember the attacks perpetrated by Angolans attached to the embryo of the Union of Peoples of Angola (UPA), in the north of the country.
The celebration of the 63rd anniversary of the anniversary, which was attended by representatives from different social strata, took place under the motto “March 15, 1961-Former combatants, living symbol of a historic past”.
Before the event, the minister, who completed a two-day working day in this province, witnessed the raising of the Republic flag at the Heróis do Cuito memorial, on the outskirts of this city, and a three-wheeled motorbike, wheelchairs, crutches, clothes used items and a batch of food products for former veteran combatants from the homeland of Bié.
Thursday, on his first day of work, he met with some pensioners from the region, where 2,925 are assisted, including former combatants, veterans of the country, widows, orphans and descendants.
At country level, in the database updated as a result of the re-registration and proof of life process completed last year, 68 thousand pensioners are controlled, out of the previous 168 thousand.
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