Catholic Bishops in Angola Advocate for Municipal Government Structure

“Since the new President came to power, we have been given this hope of the realization of the municipalities and so many years have passed and so far, the situation has not materialized,” the Angolan member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans/Holy Ghost Fathers/CSSp.) said.

He added, “There is this need to implement the participation of all citizens, so that not only a group that thinks it is enlightened to take the country forward; we are seeing where we have arrived because of that.”

Angola is the only Southern African nation that has not introduced a system of elected municipal structure of government. 

In 2018, President Lourenço called for local elections to be held in 2020. However, the polls were postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the country’s National Assembly is yet to approve the necessary legal framework for the establishment of municipalities.

During the July 12 press conference, Bishop Camuto said, “There are questions about alleged fear or risk of the ruling party losing positions, it may be that, but there is also talk of unfinished legislation.”

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“We need to put pressure on parliamentarians to conclude the legal framework on the municipalities,” the 59-year-old Catholic Bishop who has been at the helm of Caxito Diocese since his Episcopal Ordination in August 2020 said.

He went on to highlight the envisaged talking points during the 7th edition of the July 19-21 CEAST Social Week to be held under the theme, “Local Participation, Global Change”.

“There will be an inevitable debate on the urgency of the realization of local authorities, the devastating effect of blind militancy on economic and social development, the systematic closure of public spaces for participation, and a critical look at the Constitution of the Republic of Angola, which it is important to remember still guarantees rights and freedom to the citizens of this country,” Bishop Camuto said.

João Vissesse contributed in the writing of this article

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