Luanda: Over 300,000 foreign citizens are currently outside the formal tax payment system in Angola, as reported by Tounkara Mohamed Saiduo, the chairman of Action for the Development of Angolan and Foreign Youth. This revelation was made during a discussion with Raul Augusto Lima, the Third Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly, focusing on the legalization, social integration, and tax contributions of foreign residents in Angola. According to Angola Press News Agency, Saiduo emphasized that legalization and inclusion are key concerns for the association. They aim to regularize the documents of foreigners who have lived in Angola for more than 15 to 20 years, many of whom struggle to obtain legal documentation. This lack of documentation also affects their children's access to the education system. Saiduo expressed gratitude to the Angolan state and its people for their hospitality towards African citizens who choose to reside and invest in the country. Saiduo highlighted the importance of contributing to Angola's development through tax payments, given the economic opportunities foreign citizens enjoy. He announced that the association has successfully trained 3,758 young people in fields such as mechanics, metalwork, and carpentry. Additionally, they run a vocational training center and plan to offer language courses in Portuguese, French, English, and Arabic, alongside journalism courses, all free of charge. The meeting also addressed the problem of vandalism of public property. The association is working with scrap metal dealers to prevent the purchase of materials obtained through vandalism. Awareness lectures have been conducted, and efforts are underway to organize and register stakeholders in the sector. The aim is to enhance control and collaborate with authorities to curb these practices.
