Angola: Catholic church calls for ‘transparency, respect, participation’ in August general elections

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Angola: Catholic church calls for ‘transparency, respect, participation’ in August general elections

6:55 CAT | 01 Feb 2022

Photo: Lusa

Angolan Catholic bishops on Tuesday called for “truth, justice and transparency” in the preparations for the general elections scheduled for August and urged the public to participate in the process with a “high sense of responsibility” and to “avoid absenteeism”.

“The year 2022 is the year of elections for the consolidation of our still young and weak democracy. A strengthened democracy, by its nature, undoubtedly contributes to the affirmation of human dignity, the strengthening of justice, peace and human well-being,” the president of the Bishops’ Conference of Angola and Sao Tome (CEAST), José Manuel Imbamba, said today.

According to the Catholic prelate, who was speaking at the opening of the first ordinary plenary assembly of bishops of CEAST, which runs until 7 February in Benguela province, society “awaits the elections with expectation”.

“I appeal to all citizens, leaders and the led, politicians and civil society to participate in the elections, as it is a civic duty”.

Catholics “should avoid absenteeism, everyone should have or renew their voter’s card. The elections will go the way we want if they are well prepared in truth, transparency, honesty and justice,” stressed the prelate.

“We all have the right to promote those values above any and all political disputes, such as good coexistence, tolerance, fraternity, love of neighbour, respect for the opinion of others, permanent openness to dialogue, brotherhood, peace, above all the nation, citizenship and well-being for all,” he urged.

The revised Constitution of the Republic of Angola (CRA) states that general elections in the country must be held in the second half of August.

Imbamba said that the electoral campaign for the August elections “will only be successful if it is based on mutual respect and if all the recognised parties have the right and the opportunity to express their ideas.

“Without excesses and blind fanaticism, which generate the climate of crispness, feuds, fear, uncertainty and lack of confidence in the future, let us be builders of bridges and not walls of separation, let us render our intelligences not to machinate evil, hatred, intrigue, slander, exclusion,” he noted.

Source: Lusa