By: Henriques Depends
Prior point:
The word Unity comes from the Latin “unitas” which means unique or indivisible, as well as characterizing the union of members with a certain homogeneity or identity. Between us, there is a popular adage that says that “unity is strength”. However, unity only translates into strength when the cause for which the united fight is common. In this sense, Angola is for us the cause and the common good for which all Angolans must fight and defend.
note:
In this pedagogical exercise, as is customary and because the academy teaches us this way, we leave our opinion open, so that dear readers have the right to think differently about it. However, may this difference be and always have UNITY as its epicenter, that is, the converging point.
On the 25th of January (Luanda City Day) of the year in theory, we published through the Jornal Digital Lil-Pasta News, a text whose title was “General Elections 2022: How to balance the wills to carry out justice?”, resumed and published, too, the same the next day (26.01) by Club-K. This text aimed to analyze the organization of the electoral process in Angola, focusing on three elements considered very important in the organization and conduct of elections, namely Freedom, Justice and Transparency.
They are important because only with a FREE process would it be possible to guarantee the citizen’s right of choice and freedom to choose the candidate who is his favorite; it is a FAIR process, one that ensures, before the vote, the equal treatment of competitors by public institutions; and finally, only with TRANSPARENCY can we guarantee the fairness of and in everything on voting day.
In our opinion, it is only with the observation and materialization of these three elements that we would certainly have a clean, democratic and festive electoral process, thus avoiding any margin for complaints, either by the competing political parties or by the voting citizens. , as in previous cases.
However, the complaints of some competing political actors that gave space to the electoral dispute presented by one of these actors, before the Constitutional Court in the guise of the Electoral Court, the “somewhat unbalanced” behavior of the public institutions involved in the electoral process, the various recommendations made by the National and International Election Observers, among other manifestations of protest, show that it was not from this, with the organization of the fifth (5th) elections in the history of our young democracy, that we learned from the lesson of the past for the realization of suffrage based on the rules democratic. However, despite these lapses recorded, Angolans have an obligation to maintain political, social and economic stability, so that the country can continue.
The thirst for power or the maintenance of it cannot remove from Angolans the capacity of common sense, nor the logic of the future, nor minimize the memory of the so recent past, a past full of lessons and odysseys, resulting fundamentally from the struggles for conquest. of our Independence and Peace, respectively.
Of these struggles for independence and peace, and because the difficulties do not last forever (Cfr. Ecclesiastes 3:1), regardless of the camps that opposed the liberation movements in 1975, and former belligerents in 1992, when the Angolans decided to embrace UNITY and fight for the common cause (Angola), it was possible to sign the Alvor Accords in January 1975, culminating in the proclamation of Independence in November of the same year, as well as it was possible to win a brother’s war to brother, which lasted 27 years, giving way to Peace with the signing of the Peace Agreements in April 2002, as well as the creation of the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation (GURN) in April 1997.
All these feats were only possible because Angolans, with greater emphasis on political actors, were able to interpret the value of UNITY, relegating individual interests to that place to put Angola first and above all.
In other words, our history teaches us that in moments of discord and when everything seems difficult to resolve, UNITED Angolans WIN.
Using the past to solve the present is a demonstration of wisdom and reduces the gymnastics in the search for solutions to overcome the present and project the future. The wise always have the understanding that things do not lose their value because they belong to the past, in fact, there is an equation that can be understood in logic that new is not necessarily a virtue, nor is old age a defect.
Therefore, if we apply the same practice as UNITY, putting the COUNTRY in the first place, leaving political-party interests aside, we will be able to overcome the electoral dispute that has opposed Angolans since the publication of the results of the general elections of 24 August 2022, in order to maintain the political and social stability of the country. An eventual bet on instability will not have losers or winners, it will only result, once again, in the delay of Angola. We need to embrace dialogue and always dialogue.
For, until we become a master in the art, we cannot do without the rules. In other words, until our democracy matures, we cannot abdicate the paths towards its effectiveness, therefore, dialogue, dialogue and dialogue always.
Finally, so that the next five years can produce the desired prosperity and brotherhood, it is urgent to leave some appeals to the following institutions:
PRESIDENT:
From the day you are sworn in, you will become President of all Angolans, becoming a needle on which the thread follows, so, as first among all equals, be a good example for Angola to advance.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY:
Power belongs to the people, but it is exercised through democratically elected institutions, parliament being one of these institutions. Therefore, value the mandate of the people, doing everything in their name.
COURTS:
Remember that power creates law, but only law limits power. You always apply the law on the basis of justice and obedience to your conscience. For to disobey the law and one’s conscience in obedience to the orders of others is one of the worst things a man can offer himself.
DEFENSE AND SECURITY BODIES:
In your hands is the defense and security of the country and all Angolans. During the exercise of your functions, know how to say no to superior orders to your conscience. They always remember the words that emanate from the judgment they rendered at the end of their military training.
PRESS:
They always report truthfully, impartially, rigorously and objectively. We must end the culture of untruth installed in the various media, which tends to hide the facts, distort data and manipulate information.
POLITICAL PARTIES:
Firmness and a lot of serenity, the focus is ahead, they seek to organize themselves more for future political competitions.
YOUTH:
For this fringe, it is worth remembering the appeal of the eldest Lopo do Nascimento, when he left the National Assembly, in January 2014, saying that young people cannot get lost in childcare discussions that only divide them and prevent positions of COMMON ACTIONS in relation to what is truly important for the country’s future.
COMPANY IN GENERAL:
Angola was the winner in the August 24 general elections, so no one at this point should be carried away by euphoria, nor succumb to despair. We are all Angola and it is for this that we must fight towards sustainable development and social well-being for all.
For the success of these appeals, we must all challenge our pride and make room for wisdom. On the contrary, we will be making a poor substitute for intelligence.
For a United Angola and for all, God in charge, Jesus in the piles and the Ancestors in the vanguard.
May God bless Angola and the Angolans!
Henriques Depende – Master’s student in Management and Direction of International Cooperation Projects at the European University of the Atlantic, Spain.
