Moçâmedes - President João Lourenço left the southern Namibe province on Sunday afternoon after a three-day working visit, which served to re-launch tourism in the region.
In Namibe, João Lourenço inaugurated 26 infrastructures to support the management of the Iona National Park and witnessed the release of 13 giraffes to repopulate this nature reserve area.
To encourage tourism in Iona, the Head of State travelled a few kilometers through the desert dunes on a quad bike.
Speaking to the press, the president said the foundation has been laid for tourism to be re-launched in the park located in the municipality of Tômbwa.
The president added that, after attention has been paid to the Iona Park, others will follow, such as the national parks of Cangandala, Luengué-Luciana, Bicuar and Cameia, and that public tenders will be held for these parks to be taken care of.
João Lourenço met with the provincial government of Namibe on Sunday to learn about the socio-economic situation in the region.
The local governor, Archer Mangueira, presented a detailed report on the socio-economic situation in the province, in which he highlighted the program to combat drought, having highlighted the implementation of 39 projects to bring water to more than 200,000 people affected, as well as watering livestock.
Archer Mangueira spoke of the growth of the health sector, which has gained 19 health units and 225 new professionals from 2021 to 2023, as part of the implementation of the Integrated Municipal Intervention Program (PIIM) that has already seen 99 projects executed out of the total of 106 in the portfolio.
Before leaving Namibe province, President João Lourenço was briefed on the progress of the redevelopment works at Moçâmedes Bay.
The president’s last visit to Namibe was in 2021, at the end of his first term. MS/ART/AMP
