President Inspects Muxima Village Redevelopment Works

Luanda: President Joo Lourenço visited on Saturday the urban redevelopment works in the Muxima village, which began in 2022, to learn about its progress and challenges. The Head of State received details about the construction of housing for the relocation of 621 families living in the area where the Muxima Basilica will be built. According to Angola Press News Agency, the President then visited the sites where work is underway on the road leading to the village, the campsite, the municipal administration building, the site where the basilica will be built, the model house in the residential area, with 150 of the 1,000 planned houses already completed, as well as the water reservoir. At the end of the visit, the Head of State met with the heads of the companies involved in the project, in the presence of members of the Executive. This is Joo Lourenço's first visit to Icolo e Bengo, one of the three provinces created earlier this year under the New Administrative Division. The project was made possible thank s to the financing line agreed between Portugal and Angola, whose ceiling was recently increased to 2.5 billion euros. With a financing value allocated to the line of around 118 million euros, the project has a strong social component and will enable to relocate 621 families (3,000 people), guaranteeing decent and comfortable housing, with quality infrastructure for water supply, electricity, and sanitation, as well as health, education, and security support services, according to the project description. The new sanctuary will be built near the old chapel, next to the river, on an area of 10 hectares, with capacity for 4,600 seated worshippers, a square for 200,000 pilgrims, a car park with capacity for 1,117 vehicles, a clergy building, and residences for priests and nuns. For urban redevelopment, the project includes social facilities such as a medical center, local administration, National Police headquarters, school, community center, and campground. The larger project is the urban redevelopment of the village of Muxima, where the Sanctuary will be built, much more modern and with a new cathedral. It is a very ambitious project which, in addition to improving the quality of life for the inhabitants of the village of Muxima, will enable the Catholic faithful who make the pilgrimage to Muxima every year to do so in much better conditions, according to the same description. The village of Muxima, seat of the municipality of Quiçama, located 125 kilometers from the city of Luanda, is a tourist area and very popular on the eve of the pilgrimage by Catholic faithful from all over the country and the world. With the urban redevelopment and the construction of the Basilica, it is expected that the village will attract more tourists and generate more revenue for the State. The construction of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Conception of Muxima, popularly known as Mam Muxima, and its surrounding areas is one of the most significant centers of Marian devotion in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 1599 in the municipal ity of Quiçama, the sanctuary was built by the Portuguese on the left bank of the Kwanza River. The religious temple was burned down by the Dutch in 1641, but rebuilt shortly after with the return of the Portuguese to Angola. It was classified as a National Monument in 1924. Devotion is centered on the image of Our Lady of Muxima ('heart' in the local language Kimbundu). Since 1833, an annual pilgrimage has been held in late August and early September, attracting up to 1 million pilgrims, making it the largest gathering of faith in the country. During the pilgrimage season, pilgrims set up tents, participate in prayers, and receive support from the government and the Church, which prepare facilities such as latrines, tents, and medical and logistical support points during the event.