Luanda - At least 123 Angolan nationals are serving prison sentences in the neighbouring Republic of Namibia, in connections with a large range of crimes, against 31 Namibians locked in Angolan jails.
The Angolan and Namibian inmates in one another’s country might be sent to serve their sentences at home, following a deal between the two countries for the swapping of people serving jail terms.
The Angolan Parliament Wednesday in Luanda unanimously passed a resolution that ratifies the above mentioned agreement between Angola and Namibia.
A source from the Angolan Penitentiary Service told Angop that, of the 123 Angolan prisoners in Namibia, 111 have been sentenced and 12 in detention, against 27 sentenced Namibians and four in preventive custody.
The deal signed between the two countries in 2018, provides for the swap of prisoners serving jail terms.
Under the deal, the two countries agree to cooperate, taking into account the facts that contribute to the social reintegration of those sentenced and the imprisonment conditions.
The cooperation deal will enable the creation of conditions for those sentenced from both countries to serve in their countries the sentences passed in the other State.
In terms of the agreement, the State in which the sentence is passed must make sure the inmates express their consent as for the transfer. The decision must be in writing and in full knowledge of the legal consequences.
The deal says the costs of the transfers must be paid by the parties in agreed proportions.
Angola’s opposition CASA-CE coalition MP André Mendes de Carvalho welcomed the deal saying it has been well drafted.
Ruling MPLA party MP, José Semedo, said the issue has been of great concern.
"Angola and Namibia, as members of the International Community and, more than that, two people linked by deep ties of brotherhood, blood and strong traditions of fraternity, could not further delay a positive answer to this international juridical imperative,” he stressed.
Opposition UNITA MP, Miraldina Jamba, stated that the accord is very good for both countries, as it enables to expand the juridical ties on the basis of the mutual respect and observance of the international law.
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The SADC Fund
The plenary session unanimously approved a Resolution that ratifies the Operational Agreement for the Regional Development Fund of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), with a registered capital of US 13 billion.
The SADC Fund aims to mobilise resources to finance regional organisation’s programmes and projects, particularly industrial infrastructures, integration, as well as economic adjustments and social development.
51% of the capital is reserved for SADC member states, 37 percent for the regional and international private sector and 12 percent for international cooperation partners.
The secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Domingos Vieira Lopes, told the session that, based on calculations of the participation of each member State, Angola, with a share of 8,7 percent, should subscribe the amount of Usd 3,4 million a year, for three years.
