Ondjiva – Angolans living abroad on Saturday in Ombadja, southern Cunene Province emphasized the importance of the Cafu water supply project for the development of agriculture and its contribution to attracting foreign investment to the region.
The project consists of a system for collecting and transferring water from the Cunene River to various villages, via a 165 kilometer long conduit, as part of the fight against drought in the province.
Speaking to the press during a visit to the project, Josefa Albino, head of the delegation of Angolans living in Spain, recognized the government's investment in the project, saying that it offers the conditions to attract investors in agriculture and cattle breeding.
"The project opens doors for entrepreneurs to take advantage of the water and energy to create ventures aimed at boosting more sustainable agriculture and diversifying the country's economy", Albino said.
To her, in addition to the contribution from oil and diamonds, the country needs to leverage agriculture and this is the work that the government led by President João Lourenço is doing.
Josefa Albino said was satisfied with their visit to various social enterprises in Cunene, in the certainty that they will provide economic and sustainable growth for the well-being of the local population.
She stressed that the group she leads took good note of the work made by the government and to transmit it to other Angolan citizens in the diaspora with the aim to recognize, value and contribute to improve Angola´s development.
The head of the Angolan delegation in Portugal, José do Rosário on his turn, said there is great potential that should be published and more explored to encourage agricultural production and the use of cattle by-products such as skin and horn.
"This image is an opportunity that I will take to Portugal, with a view to attracting investors, because we, as Angolans everywhere, must feel responsible for the development of our land", he said.
Rosário added that it is everyone's moral and patriotic duty to contribute to the country's development, especially in agriculture, because there are the essentials to make it work on a larger scale.
The delegation of 33 nationals living in different countries also visited the Santa Clara Customs Post, the statue of King Mandume ya Ndemufayo and Fernando Kevano's satellite city.
The Cafu canal is the first of five projects created by the Angolan government as part of the program to fight drought in Cunene Province, which is benefiting 235,000 people in the municipalities of Ombadja, Cuanhama and Namacunde.
It comprises 30 chimpacas (reservoirs for watering cattle), with 100 metres long, 50 wide, six metres deep. It has a water storage capacity of 25,000 to 30,000 cubic metres.
PEM/LHE/VC/MRA/AMP
