Mbanza Congo – The Members of the Parliament (MP) of the 3rd committee of the National Assembly on Tuesday said they were concerned about the cross-border crimes that occur at the Luvo border post, municipality of Mbanza, Angolan Zaire province.
According to MP Maria Ângela Bragança, who was speaking to the press, at the end of a meeting between the parliamentarians of the 3rd committee on Foreign Relations, International Cooperation and Angolan Communities Abroad and members of various bodies of the Government of the Province of Zaire, fuel smuggling, illegal immigration, tax evasion, drug and human trafficking are the most frequent crimes on the border between Luvo and the DRC.
She stressed that these and other offences committed on the border perimeter between Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have a negative impact on the country's economy, as well as on the work activity of professionals from various bodies working in that border area.
Ângela Bragança said that some economic offences, with emphasis on fuel smuggling, have their days numbered, with the entry into force in the coming months of the law to combat the smuggling of petroleum products.
'It is very visible what is happening on the border of Luvo in terms of fuel smuggling', the MP stressed, having also expressed concern about the re-export of products from the basic basket to the neighboring country, without any taxation.
Meanwhile, Maria Ângela Bragança was, on the other hand, satisfied with the customs and commercial infrastructures that are being built in the commune of Luvo, which, in her opinion, will contribute not only to the prevention of some cross-border infractions, but also to the creation of conditions that will allow the Luvo border to be strengthened, from the point of view of collecting revenue for the State coffers.
'We see that a customs control center is being built in Luvo, which, with its entry into operation, will benefit the citizens of the two neighboring countries,' she said.
Ângela Bragança assured that the MPs of the 3rd committee will advocate with the central structures of the Executive in order to solve the main problems that were found at this border post, considered one of the busiest in the country.
Chieftains urged to play their true role
Regarding the alleged attribution of residents' cards to illegal citizens of the DRC, by alleged chieftains from the border commune of Luvo, the MP said that the commission took good note and will deal with the competent authorities on this matter.
'We want our traditional authorities residing here in the border area to carry out your mission with zeal and dedication, working in coordination with the local administrative authorities. We know that the resident card you issue is very important for the civil registration of any citizen,' she said.
The MP added that illegal immigrants obtain official documents of Angolan citizenship from the wrong bases.
During their stay in the commune of Luvo, the MPs, accompanied by the governor of Zaire, Adriano Mendes de Carvalho, visited the Migration and Foreigners Service, the Border Guard Police Station, the works of the future border market and the customs center, as well as the detention center for illegal aliens.
The province of Zaire shares a 310-kilometer border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The border commune of Luvo is 60 kilometers north of the city of Mbanza Congo, capital of the province of Zaire. DMN/JL/DOJ
