Month: August 2021

Luanda – The Multisectoral Commission for the Prevention and Combat of Covid-19 recommended Tuesday that the measures imposed to deal with the new variants of SARS-Cov-2 in the country be more stringent, with greater incidence in border provinces.

According to the deputy coordinator of the commission, Carolina Cerqueira, who was speaking to the press at the end of the weekly briefing, the local authorities and the Ministry of the Interior should step up controls on the movement of people at border posts with neighbouring countries, particularly Namibia, Zambia and DR Congo, as a way of preventing the spread of the disease in Angola.

Carolina Cerqueira also expressed satisfaction at the vaccination campaign for minority populations (khoisans) located in the province of Cuando Cubango, saying that it was a planned action in the process of social inclusion of Angolans.

The Minister of State for Social Affairs also called for the reinforcement of awareness campaigns for the populations to adhere to the vaccination process in the country.

Carolina Cerqueira welcomed the support received from the USA, consisting of the donation of 586,170 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, saying that it reinforces Angola’s capacity to vaccinate citizens over 18 years old.

During the meeting, the members of the commission were informed of the weekly balance of the actions of the security forces throughout the country, as well as those carried out in favour of vaccination and testing against Covid-19.

Data disclosed point out to the registration of 264 infractions, throughout the week, which resulted in convictions, with penalties converted into fines, having been collected Kz 3.1 million.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – Angolan Vice President Bornito de Sousa Tuesday in Lusaka, praised the peaceful transition of power in Zambia, with the inauguration of the new President, Hakainde Hichilema.

Bornito de Sousa, witnessed today, in the Zambian capital, the investiture of the new President of Zambia, representing the Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço.

Bornito de Sousa recalled that this is not the first time that political change occurs in Zambia, stressing that, in any of the cases, the constant has been the maintenance of a good relationship between the States, parties and Governments over time.

“We believe that this will not be different at this time. We came to represent the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, at the inauguration of the elected President, we can see that there is a great consensus and, above all, a great emotion with this peaceful transition”, he expressed.

The Vice President of the Republic of Angola considered it an example for Africa and that it should be followed.

Among the African heads of State attending the event were the President of the DRC and of the African Union (AU), Félix Tshisekedi, and the President of Malawi and of the SADC, Lázaro Chakwera.

According to the Vice President of the Republic, the speeches of these statesmen reflect the thought and consensus of the Africans in wishing success to the governance of the new President of Zambia.

Bilateral cooperation

Bornito de Sousa noted that Angola and Zambia, as neighbouring countries, have much to gain from each other, highlighting actions already underway, particularly in terms of infrastructure, railways and the extension of the road network.

He also referred to talks between the two countries to create an oil pipeline linking Lobito (Angola) to Zambia and other aspects of common interest in which both countries can cooperate, “for example, in agriculture and tourism, where Zambia is very strong, and Angola can benefit from that experience.

Inauguration of the new president of Zambia

Zambia’s new president, Hakainde Hichilema, began his five-year term of office on Tuesday, promising political, economic and democratic reforms and zero tolerance for corruption in the country.

The swearing-in ceremony of Zambia’s new leader took place at the Heroes’ Stadium on the outskirts of the city of Lusaka, under heavy security measures, with nine African heads of state and representatives of international organisations in attendance.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – The People’s Republic of China plans to increase, this year, within the framework of bilateral cooperation, the number of doctors to provide services in Angola, announced this Monday, the Chinese ambassador to Angola, Gong Tao.

Currently, there are 72 doctors in Angola who provide services, mostly based at the Hospital Geral de Luanda (General Hospital of Luanda), in various areas of health.

The ambassador, who was speaking at a press conference to present the general balance of his activities throughout 2020, said that it will be the seventh team of health professionals, consisting of 12 members, to come to Angola as part of the cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador Gong Tao said that the first group of physicians arrived in Angola in 2009.

“We want to continue supporting Angola in the health sector and not just there, so we continue to negotiate the arrival of the seventh medical team,” he disclosed.

Gong Tao said that the Chinese government also intends to send doctors to provide free services in the communities.

Regarding infrastructure and training, the diplomat said that in 2020, seven hundred Angolans participated in intensive training in various areas in China.

The ambassador said that this year, because of the pandemic, China trained over 100 Angolan professionals virtually, in the areas of administration and finance.

Gong Tao expressed his willingness to continue supporting Angola in the fight against Covid-19, whether with vaccines, test kits or the construction of field hospitals.

Source: Angola Press News Agency