By: Thomas Alberto
Africa-Press – Angola. First, I must say that what we experienced on Monday in Luanda is not at all pleasing; it is condemnable on every level. I say no to looting and vandalism.
I have followed almost all the policies and guidelines given at the highest level by the Executive, I know the National Development Plan (PDN), from one end to the other, I have followed the justice reform, the approval of new laws…
I have already appealed to all State instruments, including the Constitution, the Code of Administrative Procedure, the National Security Law, the Advertising Law, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Law, the National Development Plan, the guidelines of the President of the Republic, decisions made by the Council of Ministers and others, by Ministers of State, unfortunately public managers have never given the slightest importance to this.
We are facing subversion and insubordination; this is a very serious problem that deserves appropriate attention. We live in a democratic state governed by the rule of law, where institutions were established through universal suffrage; where the will of the sovereign people was expressed.
Even though some people are new, old habits still persist, and the worst part is that no one respects the law, much less the guidance given to the highest levels of the Executive branch regarding the resolution of the people’s problems. And, worse than that, the agencies that should be doing something are indifferent.
Once again, I used the guidelines of the MINISTER OF STATE FOR ECONOMIC COORDINATION, in which he said at the opening of AngoTic, “The Executive wants Technology as a means to combat inequalities, generate jobs and stimulate entrepreneurship”… as I am a businessman in this area, and therefore we own the only Angolan digital advertising platform and based in Angola to provide this service, due to the fact that the digital advertising technology service (sponsored campaigns) are paid in foreign currency, despite this generating financial and economic losses in foreign currency of approximately 622,776,000 USD annually, commercial digital exclusion, promoting digital informality and inflation, as we know how to mitigate, and, in return, we expect to generate more than 50,000 jobs for young people who own a smartphone, tablet and computer, generating tax revenue through this service.
In other words, we want to do everything we can to ensure that this money does not leave the Angolan economy, to benefit Angola and Angolans.
As we have difficulties with technical and technological resources, even though the platform has been built and functional since 2020, we requested support from three laptops from public agencies, and none of them were able to help us, not even with at least one.
INAPEM has not responded to the request for support to date. The MINISTRY OF PLANNING responded that it does not have the resources to provide support. The MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION responded that it does not have the financial resources to provide this support. The AGT did not respond, the MINISTER OF FINANCE did not respond, and FADCOM did not respond either. I was left wondering: who will implement the recommendations made by the MINISTER OF STATE FOR ECONOMIC COORDINATION?
And why have public institutions lost the sensitivity to helping a young-owned company, and therefore the only one in Angola that is fighting to mitigate financial and economic losses, in the order of USD 622,776,000 annually, commercial digital exclusion, promotion of informality, reduction of inflation through this service, and in return generate more than 50,000 jobs for young people who own a smartphone, tablet and computer?
This lack of sensitivity, subversion, and insubordination to the guidelines given at the highest level of the Executive branch prevent things from materializing.
Only a platform can COMBAT INEQUALITY. Only a platform can CREATE JOBS NATIONALLY. Only a platform can PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP NATIONALLY. Only a platform can GENERATE TAX REVENUE NATIONALLY.
If they are denying support to the company that owns Angola’s only digital advertising platform, then who will implement the recommendations made by the Minister of State for Economic Coordination at the opening of AngoTic?
Are they also waiting for foreigners to come and do it, so that they can then repatriate their dividends out of Angola, and once again Angola and Angolans will be harmed? Without money, there will be no economic growth, much less development.
What is the purpose of our human capital in this country?
Then, it’s the same disaffected representatives of these institutions, who fail to comply with public interest causes and the Executive’s directives, who come forward to talk about increased tax revenue, employment, training, mentoring, incubation, and lectures—when they don’t care about us, much less their superiors. They present models that have never produced results. Yet, they still receive funds from the State Budget.
Since these programs have been implemented, which have swallowed and continue to swallow funds from the State’s General Budget, what results have been achieved?
Which nationally renowned company, businessman or entrepreneur has emerged from these incubation, mentoring and other programs?
Can’t anyone see that these programs only produce reports that don’t reflect the lives of the Angolan population?!
Some people who are not aligned and committed to the Executive’s goals, which are aimed at the well-being of our country, must be replaced. It’s time to invest in members of civil society to achieve the goals that aim to improve the well-being of Angola and its people.
Many people have already demonstrated that they are not there to serve, but to serve themselves.
In 2023, I had the audacity to write to a government agency, stating that the service they have been providing us is frustrating, and that we, young people, in turn, criticize President João Lourenço’s administration, giving us the impression that the guidelines for lack of service and support have come from the Presidency of the Republic. This is not true; the guidelines and recommendations of the President of the Republic and the ministers of state are clear about the help and support that should be given to young people, as they require special attention to assert themselves in society.
Sometimes I wonder what agenda some public officials are implementing? Because the Executive’s recommendations are one thing, and quite clear. But the practices of some public officials are different, and even the devil doubts them.
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