Luanda - The death of Angolan nationalist Rui Mingas on Thursday in Lisbon (Portugal) due to illness was the main highlight of ANGOP's political news last week.
Having died at the age of 84, Rui Mingas held positions of political responsibility, both at home and abroad, and civic responsibility, having been ambassador, Secretary of State for Physical Education and Sport and a member of the National Assembly (AN).
The musician and former sportsman also took an active part in the process that culminated in Angola's independence on 11 November 1975, and was one of the authors of the lyrics for the National Anthem, together with writer Manuel Rui Monteiro.
In light of the loss, Angolan society has expressed its deep dismay, most notably the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, who considered Rui Mingas to be a personality of great prestige, who on various fronts and in various roles represented the country with talent, competence and dignity.
"With deep consternation I received the sad news of the death of Rui Mingas," reads the Head of State's message of condolence.
He recalls that the "undisputed" athlete began by raising the name of Angola in professional athletics in Portugal and, from an early age, made a name for himself as a songwriter and singer, as a symbol of resistance against colonial power.
"His death impoverishes our country and leaves his family and a vast legion of friends and work colleagues in mourning. To everyone, particularly his widow and children, we express our condolences and our feelings of sorrow," concluded the Angolan statesman.
For her part, the president of AN, Carolina Cerqueira, emphasised that Rui Mingas' work will live on in the collective memory of Angolans.
In a message of condolence, the parliamentarian believes that the country has lost a good son, but his legacy will remain in the annals of history and in the hearts of its citizens.
Similarly, other government bodies, civil society organisations, public and private institutions, politicians, academics, traditional authorities, the artistic community, sportspeople, religious people and other individuals, including foreigners, highlight Rui Mingas' legacy.
The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, mourned the death of the Angolan nationalist and musician, who he remembered as a personality "from Angola's modern mythology".
"Even if he hadn't been one of the authors of the Angolan National Anthem, Rui Mingas would have been part of Angola's modern mythology in the last years of the empire and in the first decades of independence," he said in a note of regret.
The last seven days have also seen the nationwide celebrations of 4 January, Martyrs of Colonial Repression Day, in memory of the events of 1961 in the town of Cassanje, Malanje, when thousands of peasants were barbarously killed by the Portuguese colonial regime.
The "episode" became known as the "Massacre of Baixa de Cassanje", due to the deaths of nearly six thousand Angolan farmers for protesting against the low prices of cotton, practised by the Companhia Geral de Algodão "Cotonang", and the mistreatment imposed by the oppressor.
63 years on, the central act of the commemorations took place this year in the municipality of Xá-muteba, in the province of Lunda-Norte, under the slogan "In the spirit of 4 January, former combatants united for the development of Angola", and was led by the Minister of National Defence, Former Combatants and Veterans of the Homeland.
On the occasion, João Ernesto dos Santos "Liberdade" emphasised the spirit of bravery of the martyrs and appealed to the youth to preserve peace, unity and national reconciliation, which are determining factors for the country's socio-economic development.
He said that the action of 4 January marked a turning point in Angola's history, towards national independence and effective peace.
On the other hand, the minister emphasised Angola's role in conflict resolution, considering the country to be a hub for African politics, as a result of its experience in this area.
Just last week, the President of the Republic moved dozens of officers from the National Police (PN), the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) and the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA).
In a Presidential Decree, the Head of State appointed several commissioned officers from the PN, the SIC, generals and admirals from the FAA, and also decreed the promotion of commissioned and senior officers from the National Police, as well as the retirement of commissioned police officers, among other acts linked to military careers.
Among those appointed are Lieutenant General Dinis Lucama, the new Chief of Staff of the Army, António José Neto, commander of the Northern Military Region, and Remígio do Espírito Santo, commander of the South-Eastern Military Region.
Also noteworthy was the appointment of commissioners David da Silva Cabaça, to the post of commander of the Personal Security and Protocolary Entities Police, Mateus André (Ministry of the Interior delegate and provincial commander of the National Police in Lunda-Sul), José Fernandes (Ministry of the Interior delegate and provincial commander of the National Police in Kwanza-Norte) and Adulcínio Isaac Sandolina da Silva Lutucuta (director of the Ministry of the Interior's Integrated Public Security Centre).
In another decree, deputy commissioner for criminal investigation Maria Helena dos Santos was given a retirement licence, as were chief commissioners António Maria Sita, Elizabeth Maria Ramos Franque, António Vicente Gimbe, Alfredo Quintino Lourenço, Eduardo Fernando Cerqueira and Mário Augusto de Oliveira Santos.
On the diplomatic front, the President of the Republic congratulated the Cuban government and people on the celebration of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, which took place on 1 January, and renewed his hopes for the consolidation of cooperative relations between the two countries.
He also congratulated his counterpart in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, on his re-election in the general elections on 20 and 21 December 2023.
In his message, the SADC chairperson said that Tshisekedi's re-election shows the trust placed in him by the Congolese people, appreciating all his political action and efforts over the last four years.VC/VIC/DAN/DOJ
