Luanda – The new Political-Administrative Division (DPA) approved by the parliament, eradicates urban districts from the current designed structure giving way to provinces, municipalities and communes, the architect Roberto Sampaio said Thursday in Luanda.
The professional made the statement, while speaking at Angola National Radio (RNA), in the presence of other specialists from various areas, who discussed the new DPA approved Wednesday by the National Assembly.
The law provides for the creation of three more provinces (Icolo Bengo, Cuando and Moxico Leste), 326 municipalities and 378 communes.
The province of Icolo Bengo will have Catete as its capital, Cazombo will be the seat of Moxico Leste and Mavinga will be the seat of Cuando.
For the architect, from now on there will be just municipalities and communes, without the equivalent urban districts.
Luís Jimbo, representative of the Angolan Institute of Electoral Systems and Democracy (IASED), on his turn said the government should change the paradigm of local governance.
He explained that there is an increasing need for the administration to transfer public services to other entities, especially private ones.
The Economist Paulo Forquilha on the other hand, pointed to the existing weaknesses, especially in terms of infrastructure, as the main challenge for the real functioning of the new provinces, municipalities and communes.
“All the new municipalities have precarious infrastructures, and we don't need to go to the provinces in the interior, even here in the capital, we find these precarious conditions,” he said.
The MP Nazário Vilhena explained that the ways of organizing the territory should not be confused with those of management and governance, adding that once this is separated, things become more understandable.
The strategy
The strategy establishes that, once the law has been formally approved, the basic conditions for the operation of the new units will be created, as well as the training of staff within the scope of the Action Plan for the Training of Human Capital 2037 - Angola Human Capital (ACH 2037).
The entry into force of the law is expected to be delayed until January 2025, although the preparation of the 2025 State Budget (GSB) already includes the new territorial units.
Benefits of the new DPA
The new DPA aims to reduce inequalities and poverty rates among the population, achieve a fairer and more balanced distribution of territory and national income, and promote the well-being, social solidarity and quality of life of the most vulnerable populations.
It also aims to create the progressive conditions necessary to make citizens' economic, social and cultural rights effective, with a view to the harmonious economic and social development of the country. VIC/IZ/TED/AMP
