Luanda - The election campaign for the general elections in Angola had its last day this Monday, marking the 30th day of campaign with several acts for the closing of party activities across the country.
The closing of the campaign comes on the eve of the reflection day that precedes polling day, during a period when all forms of election propaganda are banned throughout the country.
The political forces maintained their final contacts with the electorate through the usual rallies in some provincial capitals and municipal headquarters, as well as visits to informal markets, marches and door-to-door or radio mobilisation campaigns.
PHA
First party on the ballot paper, the Humanist Party of Angola (PHA) chose the province of Luanda for its main farewell activity with a mass rally led by its presidential candidate, Florbela Catarina Malaquias.
During the rally event, the only female candidate expressed confidence in achieving “positive results” in Wednesday´s polling day, taking into account the work done and the adherence of citizens to the activities of her political party.
The PHA´s farewell rally took place in the Largo das Escolas ward in Luanda, where Bela Malaquias explained that, taking into account the few months of existence of her party, the acceptance of Angolans “was satisfactory” in the 18 provinces of the country.
P-NJANGO
The Nationalist Party for Justice in Angola (P-NJANGO), led by Eduardo “Dinho” Chingunji, declared that its militants “are ready” to vote with civility and tranquillity on 24 August.
During the ten party´s last ten airtime minutes on Angola National Radio (RNA) station, P-NJANGO said it expected, in general, a peaceful and orderly election, judging by the exemplary conduct demonstrated during the electoral campaign.
The P-NJANGO leader reiterated if he wins the elections, his priority is to focus on the health sector, to improve the quality of service provided, and to ensure that all citizens are treated in the country, without going abroad, and in a single health system without differentiating between classes of patients.
UNITA
UNITA´s presidential candidate once again praised the orderly conduct demonstrated by voting citizens during the campaign and encouraged them to continue in the same path so that the “festive atmosphere” prevails until the end.
At his last rally in Luanda, Adalberto Costa Júnior reassured his supporters that his party had prepared properly to supervise the electoral process, and had gathered a sufficient number of delegates and more than in the previous voting process.
UNITA´s president expressed confidence in victory and reiterated his determination to review the constitution and reduce presidential powers, as he disagreed with the current text which allows voters to elect two sovereign bodies (President of the Republic and Members of Parliament) with a single vote.
FNLA
The candidate of the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), Nimbi a Simbi, closed his electoral campaign in Luanda with a speech focusing on unity, transparency of the electoral process and the valorization of former combatants.
He appealed to the militants not to join “violent campaigns” and to go to the polling stations to exercise their democratic duty, with the election of a new President of the Republic and a new parliament members.
Nimbi a Simbi revealed that the FNLA had accredited 35,000 list delegates to work in the electoral process, and called on the government to “make the amounts available to pay the staff and guarantee the normal course of the process”.
CASA-CE
The Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola Electoral Coalition (CASA-CE), which is in fifth position on the ballot paper, also rejoiced at the massive and orderly manner in which Angolans joined the mass political acts during the 30 days of the electoral campaign.
In a message during the last ten minutes of airtime on RNA station, its presidential candidate, Manuel Fernandes, expressed his satisfaction for the fact that there were no incidents among supporters of the competing political parties that could compromise the electoral campaign.
The politician reaffirmed his promise to guarantee fair wages and macroeconomic stability to the country with a more inclusive government programme and a greater attention to the social area, giving priority to hospitals in the periphery.
PRS
The provincial secretary of the Social Renewal Party (PRS) in Bengo province, José Borges dos Santos, urged voters to avoid remaining in the polling stations after voting, based on the electoral law.
Speaking to ANGOP at the closing of the party´s campaign, José Borges dos Santos recalled that the Angolan electoral law prohibits voters from remaining in polling stations after voting.
He said there was no need for them to remain in the polling stations since the political parties had delegates to supervise the process.
APN
Among other farewell activities, the National Patriotic Alliance (APN), led by Quintino Moreira, went to the Municipality of Ambriz, in Bengo Province, to conclude the voter mobilisation process.
Also in the southern province of Huila, APN party marked its last presence with the registration of new delegates to ensure the supervision of voting operations on “D” day, 24 August.
MPLA
The MPLA's first secretary in Lunda Sul Province, Daniel Neto, called for greater unity and cohesion within the party, and reminded militants and supporters of the need to avoid intrigues with other party forces.
He also reiterated the importance of MPLA supporters being calm and serene on polling day.
The official warned that the results should be awaited at home, discouraging the idea of “voting and sitting down” advocated by one of the competing political forces so that voters can stay close to the polling stations until the results are posted.
