Cuito – The Minister of National Defence, Former Combatants and Veterans of the Homeland João Ernesto dos Santos on Friday said that the state and society still owe a patriotic debt of honor to former combatants and veterans of the homeland for their services and the decisive role they played during the national liberation struggle.
The minister made the statement at the celebrations of the 63rd anniversary of the Day of the Expansion of the National Liberation Struggle marked on March15.
In his view, despite the fact that 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 this social group a patriotic debt of honor, for everything they did to conquer national independence and defend their homeland.
The minister 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 sensitivities 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 the development and socio-economic growth of the country, strengthen the democratic rule of law and fight for the dignity of the human person," the minister said.
The minister said the March 15 celebrations are a collective tribute to all the fighters for the national liberation struggle, who, from an early age, gave the best of their youth, gave their body and soul, without regard for sacrifice, without measuring consequences and contributed to the realization of the secular dream of the Angolan people.
Minister João Ernesto dos Santos reiterated the Angolan government's commitment to continue to make efforts to implement the program to improve the lives of those being assisted, through the implementation of a series of social assistance and economic integration actions for this group, despite the present economic difficulties.
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 products from the countryside, produced by cooperatives of former combatants and veterans of the homeland, as well as ex-military personnel from the nine municipalities that make up the province of Bié.VKY/PLB/AMP
