Luanda – Angolans are going to the polls for the fifth time in the country’s history on 24 August to simultaneously elect the President of the Republic, the Vice President and the Members of the National Assembly (Angolan Parliament).
By Elias Tumba
This is a cycle that, every five years, allows the people to decide freely, peacefully and democratically their own destiny, through general elections.
This right, enshrined in the Constitution, is a sublime moment for citizens to express their desire to change or maintain the current leadership in a political dispute where, above all, a high sense of patriotism is expected.
The elections represent a suitable period for political players and voters to analyse the best ways of developing the country, discussing the priorities of the moment and the model of society that is to be implemented in the short and medium term.
By holding the ballot, every Angolan has in his/her hands the possibility of helping to improve the course and image of the country, although it is certain that, at that time, much remains to be done, fundamentally in the political, economic and social fields.
Everyone knows that there are still heavy challenges ahead, particularly in the areas of health, education, consolidation of the democratic state and the rule of law, crime, employment, basic sanitation and the fight against poverty, all of which should be on the agenda of those who propose to lead the nation after the elections.
Alongside these sectors, society demands new solutions to the issue of the distribution of national wealth, the promotion of employment and housing, as well as the improvement of public transport services, which increase the importance of these elections.
When thinking about this year’s vote, we must take into account the great fragilities of the country and the real needs of the people, particularly of the poorest families, without, however, overlooking the great achievements of the last five years.
Therefore, the time has come for each voter to demand substantial improvements from those who seek the vote, electing politicians committed to ending social inequality.
With less than 24 hours to go before the official opening of the election campaign, Angolans are expecting a “tight” race and are almost certain that this year the country will have one of the most difficult elections in its history, like the one held in 1992.
This “battle” comes at a time when Angola is trying to recover from the harsh impact of Covid-19 pandemic, which stagnated the economy and severely affected the employment market.
While it is true that the pandemic prevented the realisation of projects practically everywhere in the world and, in Angola’s case, of many electoral promises made in 2017, it is hoped that the contestants will present the voter with sustainable solutions for the 2022-2027 five-year period.
These general elections should represent for every Angolan a moment of renewed hope for better days and that the government programmes submitted to the voter by the different candidates will in fact be achieved.
Given the current context of the country and the world, it is hoped that, in this electoral campaign, each contender will clearly explain his/her medium and long-term national project, as well as the strategies for substantially improving the people’s living quality.
Thus, contestants should face the moment with patriotism, refraining from “incendiary” speeches that might endanger the foundations of peace, democracy and national reconciliation, hardly won by Angolans.
Since this is a time of great excitement and expectations, the contestants are required, more than mere promises, to present governance programmes that are increasingly adjusted to the country’s reality and are capable of rapidly improving the social and economic condition of families.
In particular, it is expected lasting solutions for the still weak National Health System, education, public transport and basic sanitation, as well as for the fight against crime, improvement of public lighting and supply of drinking water.
In the same way, we expect more adequate solutions for the promotion of employment and housing, particularly for youth, as well as a clear vision of how each of the contenders intends to carry out State reforms.
Beyond the issue of governance programmes and election manifestos, each of the contestants should bear in mind that elections are not the end of everything and that, behind their political ambitions, there is a people whose choice needs to be respected.
For the process to run smoothly, it is imperative that civil society, particularly the churches, work on mobilising voters to turn out to vote and encourage political actors to respect the people choice.
In the specific case of the Church, respect for democratic foundations must be taken into account, which are crucial for the stability of the country and the strengthening of national reconciliation, refraining from campaigning in favour of any of the contenders.
The media is also recommended to have plural and impartial coverage based only on relevant facts, without any kind of partisan and political propaganda in favour of anyone, as stipulated in the Press Law and the Electoral Legislation.
Source: Angola Press News Agency