Cunene: The Programme to Combat the Effects of Drought in Southern Angola (PCESSA), underway since 2019, will be implemented in full to ensure water availability in the region, President Joo Louren§o assured on Saturday in Cunene Province. Speaking at a press conference marking the end of his two-day working visit to Cunene, the Angolan Head of State said the programme is budgeted at approximately USD 4.2 billion, a figure that guarantees its full implementation.
According to Angola Press News Agency, he recalled that in 2019, during a visit to Ombala yu Mungu to assess the difficult living conditions faced by local communities due to limited access to water, the government decided to design the extensive Programme to Combat the Effects of Drought in Southern Angola, giving priority to Cunene Province. As an example, he pointed to the operation of the Cafu canal, which is already benefiting thousands of people and livestock, while enabling agricultural activities to be carried out successfully.
Regarding road infrastructure to improve access to the inaugurated projects and surrounding localities, the President assured that improvements would be made, although 'there is no capacity to do everything at the same time and at the same pace'. 'Access roads will be improved and new routes may eventually be opened, but the projects that are more expensive and take longer to complete are those to which we devote the greatest attention,' he said.
Joo Louren§o also stressed the need to improve electricity supply to communities in Cunene. According to the Head of State, electricity, access to schools, healthcare, and development will reach these regions, which previously did not even have access to water. The President's working agenda concluded on Saturday with the ribbon-cutting ceremony and commissioning of the Calucuve dam in Cuvelai Municipality, Cunene Province.
Before that event, attended by the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, F©lix Tshisekedi, as a special guest, the Angolan Head of State also inaugurated the Ndºe dam, located in the same municipality. On Saturday evening, President F©lix Tshisekedi was due to return to his country, while Joo Louren§o was scheduled to travel back to Luanda, the Angolan capital.
On the first day of the visit, Friday (4), the Angolan Head of State inaugurated the Cunene Youth Centre 'Olukeno', an initiative of First Lady Ana Dias Louren§o under the social responsibility programme of the Ngana Zenza Foundation for Community Development (FDC).
