Luanda - The President of the ruling MPLA, João Lourenço, said Friday that the government has been stimulating national production to enable the basic basket to be made of “Made in Angola” products.
Speaking at the opening of the MPLA's Honorary Committee, João Lourenço, who also holds the Executive Power, said the aim is to create national wealth, save foreign currency, lower prices and provide greater employment opportunities for those involved in the production process.
For João Lourenço, the current challenges are essentially focused on the need to strengthen the national economy in order to guarantee the social well-being of Angolan citizens, through a greater supply of essential consumer goods.
The MPLA leader pointed out that public services, greater access to health, education and teaching, more availability and supply of housing and employment, are priority challenges that must be met by the leaders of his party.
According to João Lourenço, special attention is being paid to the agricultural sector, particularly family farming and the industry that processes food produced in the countryside, so that it reaches the consumer's table in the best conditions of presentation, hygiene and conservation.
Lourenço urged party members to reflect on the past struggle and victories achieved, but above all on the future direction for the country's development.
The MPLA president added that there is a lot of talk and speculation about the purposes and ends of holding the MPLA's Extraordinary Congress, as if its statutes did not allow for this possibility, whenever necessary, when in reality it is not the first in the party's history.
“This only demonstrates the importance of our party in Angolan society, leaving no one indifferent whenever we meet to analyze our internal life and the political, economic and social situation of the country, which we do with the greatest possible openness and transparency, because we are not a clandestine organization,” Lourenço said.
João Lourenço said the sessions of the party's conclaves are public and known to Angolan citizens, the reason for the MPLA's existence and that it serves them.
“Since this is a statutory congress, we have a duty to provide subsequent information to the competent state institutions, namely the Constitutional Court,” Lourenço said.
João Lourenço underscored that the country for which the MPLA's leaders, militants and sympathizers fought, many of whom died in the cities, forests, jails of the former PIDE-DGS (Portuguese colonial secret police), underground and in other regions, became free and independent thanks to the sacrifice and total surrender of these sons of the nation.
He also stressed that throughout the 50 years of National Independence that lie ahead, the MPLA has been able to consolidate national sovereignty, open up the country to multi-party democracy, a market economy, peace and national reconciliation between brothers and sisters, children of the same mother.
The meeting, which was also attended by members of the MPLA's Political Bureau, examined, among other issues, aspects related to the holding of the VIII Extraordinary Congress to be held in December, and the General Program for the 50 years of National Independence to be marked on November 11, 2025.
Information was also provided on food security versus national production, with contributions from experts on the subject.
The MPLA's Council of Honor, made up of former leaders of the party, is made up of 33 members and serves as a consultative structure for the party's President in decisions of great national importance. AFL/ART/TED/AMP
