Luanda: Angolan President Joo Lourenço is inspecting the progress of the works at the Muxima Sanctuary, in the municipality of Quiçama, Icolo e Bengo province, one of the stops Pope Leo XIV will make during his visit to the country from April 18 to 21. According to Angola Press News Agency, after arriving, the Head of State, accompanied by members of the government, began the visit with a tour of the infrastructure, where he is receiving information from the contractor about the current state of the works. The working visit to the town of Muxima includes stops at the Basilica of Our Lady of Muxima, the Pilgrimage Square, the Camping Park, and the Municipal Administration building. Considered one of the largest Marian devotional sites in Africa, the Muxima Sanctuary, dedicated to Our Lady of the Conception of Muxima, a widely venerated patron saint in Angola, attracts more than one million pilgrims annually. Located on the left bank of the Kwanza River, the sanctuary is approximately 130 kilometers from Luan da and is part of the pastoral area of the diocese of Viana. The origins of the place date back to 1599, having established itself as an important center of Christianity over the centuries. When completed, the new basilica will have capacity for around 12 thousand seated faithful and more than 100 thousand standing, a fact that reinforces the capacity to welcome pilgrims and visitors. During the visit, Joo Lourenço will also check the state of infrastructure, road access, security systems, and reception capacity, with a view to holding the event, which is expected to bring together thousands of participants from various regions of the country. Since 2022, the Angolan Executive has been carrying out a project to requalify the village of Muxima, scheduled for completion in 2027, with the aim of transforming the place into an important religious tourism hub. The intervention includes the construction of the new basilica, the rehabilitation of the fort, the improvement of infrastructure, and the resettlement of residents. This visit by the President of the Republic aims to assess the progress of one of the largest urban requalification and enhancement of religious heritage projects underway in the country, under the responsibility of the Casais-Omatapalo consortium. The project foresees the resettlement of 621 families in the area where the new basilica is located, totaling 1,400 homes, with more than 160 already completed in the Coxi neighborhood urbanization. The trip will also allow us to see the progress of infrastructure such as the drinking water reservoir with a capacity of 500 cubic meters, the access road to the village, infrastructured land, the Quiçama Municipal Administration building, as well as camping and parking. The new village of Muxima is designed to benefit around 40 thousand inhabitants, with the integration of schools, health centers, National Police command, community spaces, green areas, and water supply, drainage, telecommunications, and electricity networks. In the energy field, there is the construction of a 60/30 kV substation, with a capacity of 20 MVA, and a 60 kV transmission line, approximately 70 kilometers long, as part of the Enerline-Omatapalo consortium project. With financing of around 118 million euros, within the scope of the Portugal-Angola credit line, the project reinforces the Executive's commitment to improving the living conditions of the population and promoting religious tourism in the country.
