The Provincial Government of Moxico (GPM) in eastern Angola today distanced itself from any incident that may occur in a landmine risk zone where UNITA “insists on holding an activity” despite warnings from the authorities.
In a press release sent to Lusa, the GPM expressed “great concern” that the leadership of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA, the largest opposition party) had scheduled an activity in the locality of Muangai, “not declared free of landmines.”
According to the Moxico government, all information regarding the security situation in Muangai/Velho — more than 220 kilometres from the provincial capital — where UNITA planned to mark its 60th anniversary today, had been previously provided to the party.
Concern about the demining situation on the stretch linking the Lutuai municipal seat to Muangai — where UNITA was founded on March 13, 1966 — was raised by UNITA’s provincial secretariat with the provincial governor at a meeting held on February 13, the note states. The provincial secretariat had been advised to await consultation with the competent bodies — the Provincial Command of the National Police in Moxico and the National Demining Institute (INAD) — and the creation of demining conditions on that stretch.
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“While waiting for those conditions to be established, the UNITA municipal secretary in Lutuai persistently proceeded with clearing the track without prior notification to the municipal administration,” the statement reads.
The Moxico government said the UNITA secretary in Lutuai was aware of the presence of landmines in the locality and reportedly said he “knew how to get around the obstacles” — statements that, according to the GPM, led police to issue an alert to UNITA’s provincial leadership about the risks the area posed to the safe movement of people and vehicles.
The provincial government added that the clearing of the track, allegedly carried out under the responsibility of the UNITA secretary in Lutuai, “was done in a rudimentary manner and without the accompaniment of teams specialised in demining.” During the clearing, the GPM states, the UNITA secretary reportedly removed an unexploded anti-tank mine “that was not handed over to the authorities.”
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UNITA marks its 60th anniversary today, and to commemorate the occasion, a party delegation including leaders, MPs, members and guests departed Luena in the early hours for Muangai, where a commemorative event is scheduled.
On Tuesday, UNITA president Adalberto Costa Júnior held the Angolan government responsible for the alleged mines on the Luena-Muangai stretch, assuring that the delegation would arrive safely. “On Friday we are going to Muangai and I am certain we will find no mines on the way. Was the Muangai road closed all this time? No. So the cars that have been passing through there all this time — were there no mines? Are there only mines for UNITA when it goes there?” the politician said at a public event.
