Africa-Press – Angola. In Angola, the 23rd anniversary of the death of UNITA founder Jonas Savimbi is being marked with the government handing over the remains of three of the party’s general officers to their families, 25 years after their disappearances.
The event took place at the headquarters of the General Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces. The officers were Altino Sapalalo “Bock”, Antero Morais Vieira and Constantino Dala, also known as Assobio da Bala, who were killed in 2000 during the armed conflict.
UNITA is carrying out political-party activities to celebrate the anniversary of the death of the party’s founding leader , who died 23 years ago in combat in Moxico, eastern Angola.
As part of the festivities for the death of Jonas Savimbi, the Angolan Government handed over this Friday, February 21, at the facilities of the General Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), the bodies of Altino Sapalalo “Bock”, Antero Morais Vieira and Constantino Dala, former UNITA generals , missing for more than 20 years.
Marcy Lopes , the coordinator of the Commission for Victims of Political Conflicts (CIVICOP), says that the handover of the bones was preceded by a genetic certification process , claiming that searches are ongoing to identify other remains.
“ The mission is not over. For these families, yes, but for the rest of the families who still hope to find and locate their relatives and be able to give them a dignified funeral and rest, the work continues. We will continue to search and research to give people and families the peace of mind and feeling they so desire, ” said the Minister of Justice and Human Rights.
Relatives’ actions
When reading the eulogy for General “Bock”, Luísa Sapalalo, one of his daughters, visibly shaken, recalled a heroic act by her father, who lost his left hand in a training session with military explosives, while trying to protect one of his trainees, also highlighting the important role he played in UNITA in the post-independence period.
“General Bock was one of the participants in the historic long march. In March 1977, he was elected a member of the UNITA Central Committee at its fourth congress, held in Huambo province,” she said emotionally.
In turn, Liberty Chiyaka, leader of the UNITA parliamentary group, recognized the contribution of former comrades to the cause of the country and expressed solidarity with the families.
“ We are here to express our deep solidarity with the families of General Bock, General Antero Vieira and General Assobio da Bala. We are here in solidarity with the families of our comrades. We are here to acknowledge their contribution to the cause of the country, through UNITA ,” recalled MP Liberty Chiaka.
In turn, UNITA deputy Clarice Caputo emphasized the need for peace and forgiveness, hoping that the family members find “serenity after this difficult time”.
According to CIVICOP, the bodies of the three generals were found in a mass grave in the dense forests of Tchandji, in Bié province, after three months of hard work.
The bones were later transported to Luanda for DNA testing, which confirmed the information provided by the families.
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