Luanda - The country's new Political-Administrative Division (DPA) will ensure the creation of public services across the entire length of the national territory, assured this Thursday, in Luanda, the Minister of Territorial Administration, Dionísio da Fonseca.
Speaking during the 12th edition of Café CIPRA (Presidency of the Republic Press Center) under the motto “New Political-Administrative Division: What Prospects for Angola”, Dionísio da Fonseca said that the new project will also promote the harmonious development of populations.
According to the official, this is an 'inclusive' program, which aims to reduce local asymmetries, bringing State administration bodies closer to the populations of all locations in the country.
The proposed law for the new Political-Administrative Division initiated by the Executive, is already in the National Assembly, after being considered by the Council of Ministers and the Council of the Republic.
If approved, Angola will have 325 municipalities and 20 provinces, in the first phase, compared to the current 164 municipalities and 18 provinces.
The two new provinces will result from the division of Moxico and Cuando Cubango into two each, passing to Moxico, Kassai Zambezi, Cuando and Cubango.
Moxico will have its headquarters in Luena and Cassai Zambeze in Cazombo, while Cuando in Menongue and Cubango in Mavinga.
According to Dionísio da Fonseca, in the current context, there are communes and urban districts that are ineffective in resolving the populations' problems, which is why this measure by the Executive is justified, in order to better respond to the needs of citizens.
“The lack of services in some parts of the country has led the population to turn to neighboring countries and we have to change. We need to ensure that administrative power is in the 1,246 and 700 square kilometers, which is the extent of our country”, he highlighted.
On the occasion, the governor of Cuando Cubango, José Martins, highlighted that the local population welcomes the initiative, and therefore actively participated in the public consultation process that took place in the region.
“The population of Cuando Cubango is eager for the new Political-Administrative Division to be approved by Parliament and implemented by the Executive, because it will bring significant gains to city dwellers”, he highlighted.
Among the gains, the governor highlighted the construction of the Mavinga international airport, among other infrastructures.
“We already have presidential authorization for the construction of Mavinga international airport. Likewise, the DPA will attract professionals to work in the province, as well as businessmen and investors, so the people will benefit”, he highlighted.
In turn, the governor of Moxico, Ernesto Muangala, explained that, in his province, after 48 years of independence, there are locations without administrative infrastructure, a situation that has created constraints.
“Moxico is larger than many countries, with more than 223 thousand square kilometers. It is a very large territory, which makes it difficult to manage. Therefore, the (new) DPA will accelerate the region's growth, create more jobs, especially for youth, since we have agricultural potential, mineral and water resources, but their exploitation is only possible with roads, airports, paths. iron, among others”, he added.
He urged the population to trust in State institutions, stressing that the initiative will reinforce national cohesion and unity.
The event is an initiative of CIPRA and was attended by government officials, politicians, academics, university students, representatives of civil society, as well as internet users spread across several provinces in the country and abroad. MCN/DOJ
