Rafael Massanga Savimbi, 47, today formalised his candidacy for the leadership of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA, the largest opposition party) in an atmosphere of some euphoria, singing, dancing and applause.
At the entrance to the SOVSMO complex, which the party owns, Massanga was flanked by his wife, his mother and some of the party’s historic leaders, such as Manuel Savihemba and Domingos Palanga, as well as a cordon of women from the party’s women’s branch – dressed in green and red – who marched with food products on their heads, chanting songs.
Two folders of documents conforming to the candidacy of Massanga Savimbi (son of the party’s founder, Jonas Savimbi) were handed over to the mandate commission, set up as part of UNITA‘s 14th Ordinary Congress, scheduled for 28 to 30 November in the Angolan capital.
After handing over the documents, followed by several rounds of applause, the candidate’s mandate holder, Amélia Judith Ernesto, said to those present in the room, including members, party activists and civil society actors, that supporting Rafael Massanga Savimbi means believing in renewal with continuity.
“It’s choosing someone who represents the young transition generation to dialogue with the youth, who is mature enough, who respects his elders and will honour history. He brings with him the heritage of his ancestors that evokes courage, but also the responsibility to do things differently for the better,” she said.
According to the mandatary, Massanga Savimbi also carries the political intelligence of someone who understands the dynamics of the present, the energy and integrity that inspire confidence and the ability to mobilise consensus and strengthen unity among party members, promoting cooperation and a sense of belonging for each militant.
Amélia Judith Ernesto also assured that the candidacy “is not just about party leadership: it’s about the moral and ethical reconstruction of Angolan politics. It’s about strengthening UNITA’s role as a political force that dreams, proposes and inspires to govern with ethics and values, in a distinctive commitment marked by transparency, responsibility and respect for national dignity.”
“This [candidacy] entry is not just an administrative act, but a symbolic gesture of commitment, order and responsibility that confirms the legitimate will of the pre-candidate to serve UNITA and the Angolan people, with transparency, ethics and purpose,” she emphasised.
Speaking to journalists, Rafael Massanga Savimbi described the formalisation of his candidacy as a first and very important step, in line with the party’s statutes, and expressed confidence that the process will go well and that UNITA will emerge from this conclave more united.
“The party will not emerge fragmented from this process, but, on the contrary, will emerge more united, stronger to contest the elections in 2017 and win them,” he said.
“This is the moment for me to make my contribution so that our party becomes increasingly unified, better organised and competes neck and neck with the MPLA (the ruling party) and wins the elections. My entry is to help UNITA take political power in 2027,” he said.
Massanga will be competing for the leadership of UNITA with the party’s outgoing president, Adalberto Costa Júnior, who formalised his candidacy last week and has the support of more than 100 party personalities, including historic militants and current leaders.
The public manifesto of support for Costa Júnior’s re-candidacy was downplayed by Rafael Massanga Savimbi, noting that he “is not the only competitor” and that he will contest the leadership in dialogue with militants and civil society.
“We’re going to contest the congress, we’re going to talk to the militants, we’re going to talk to society, and we’re going to share our vision, and I think this is the most important aspect, and in the end, the delegates will decide,” he declared.
The politician praised Angolan President João Lourenço’s announcement that Jonas Savimbi would be honoured as part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence: “It’s a good gesture, but the most important thing is also to say that it’s not about forgiveness, it’s about merit. Jonas Savimbi, Holden Roberto (FNLA) and Agostinho Neto (MPLA) all worked for Angola’s independence, and it’s important to make it clear that it’s not a question of forgiveness, but of merit”.
The coordinator of the mandates commission, Silvestre Samy, said that Massanga’s pre-candidacy reflects the multiple candidacies for UNITA’s leadership, believing that the dispute will be between two candidates, as the candidacies phase closes on Wednesday.
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