UNITA (the main Angolan opposition party) on Thursday expressed its “deep indignation” at the ruling MPLA’s vote against the requests to repudiate the deaths of 16 elderly women in the Angolan province of Kwanza Norte and the “illegal detention” of two MPs.
The parliamentary group of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA, the largest opposition party) sent a request to the Angolan parliament to discuss a vote of protest against the murder of 16 elderly peasant women in the Angolan province of Kwanza Norte, but it was rejected by the plenary.
Only UNITA, the Social Renewal Party (PRS), the Humanist Party of Angola (PHA) and the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), all in opposition, voted in favour of the motion, totalling 78 votes.
The MPs from the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) voted against UNITA’s proposal with 107 votes, a stance that sparked outrage from the leader of the parliamentary group of the main opposition party, Liberty Chiyaka.
Another request to change the agenda for today’s plenary session was also submitted to the plenary by UNITA, this time to discuss and vote on a vote of protest against the ‘illegal detention’ of MPs Francisco Falua and João Quipipa Dias, but it also failed to pass the plenary vote, earning votes against from the parliamentary majority.
Francisco Falua and João Quipipa Dias, UNITA MPs from the Kwanza Norte provincial constituency, were detained last Sunday while taking part in a march in solidarity with the deaths of elderly women in that province.
The murder of 16 peasant women in agricultural fields in the municipality of Cazengo, in Kwanza Norte, was the reason for Sunday’s demonstration, which was repressed by the local police and resulted in several arrests, including those of the MPs and a journalist, who were later released.
Liberty Chiyaka, reacting to the MPLA’s vote against both requests, expressed “indignation, revolt and deep sadness at the lack of human solidarity” shown in the ruling party MPs’ vote against.
“We have Angolan citizens who have been murdered in the province of Kwanza Norte. It is the duty of the people’s representatives to show solidarity with the families of the victims, it is the duty of the MPs to protest against the violence that affects the families we represent,” he said.
For the leader of UNITA’s parliamentary group, it is also the duty of parliamentarians to show solidarity with members of the parliament who have been “illegally detained”, recalling that parliamentarians have pledged to defend and respect the Constitution and the laws.
During this plenary session, the MPs also unanimously approved a vote of congratulations to the Angolan president, João Lourenço, who represents Angola in the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU).
The MPs considered that this presidency is recognition of the personal commitment of the Angolan head of state as well as the role that Angola has been playing in favour of development and peace on the African continent.
The plenary also saw the movement of MPs, with the highlight being the definitive replacement of seven UNITA MPs, including Abel Chivukuvuku (leader of the PRA JA Servir Angola) and José Alberto Catenda, who definitively lost his mandate for illegal use of protocol vehicles, and the suspension of the cessation of mandate of Mara Baptista Quiosa, current vice-president of the MPLA, who has now resumed her seat in parliament.
Lusa
