World Report

FATIMA JARDIM

s Angola gears up to hold new elections, thus opening the door to the country’s status as a fully democratic state of the 21st century, the ruling party, the MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) is confident of its future success and proud of its past. MPLA MP, President of the National Assembly of the Paralympics Committee and former Minister of Fisheries Fatima Jardim comments, “We are living a unique moment in Angola, a moment with much euphoria, and we are confident that this peace is irreversible because the common goal of everyone in the country is reconciliation and national unity, and this is being achieved arm in arm with our democracy.” Ms Jardim says that an important part of the national reconciliation programme lies in defining a new national identity for all. The reconciliation programme has included the reintegration of UNITA (National Union of the Total Independence of Angola) soldiers into civilian or national military life, as well as the establishment of UNITA as the leading opposition party.

According to Ms Jardim, the focus of the MPLA’s strategy is on working hand in hand with other actors to improve the country’s future. Consequently, she is confident of its success when Angola is ready to go to the polls. She states, “We have a strong programme for modernising Angola, with strategic aims, and this will help us win the next elections. It is a programme for growth that will lead to a more prosperous future for the youth of this country, through peace and tranquillity, and that will provide hope for our children.”

Ms Jardim says that the new constitution will be a means to ensure the fair distribution of the country’s wealth and that the government has drawn upon the experience of other African nations in preparing it. She also believes the constitution will serve as a future model for other countries on the African continent.