Cuito Cuanavale - A multisectoral government commission began today, Wednesday, the consultation of ethnic-minority groups to prepare the plan for inclusion and protection of their rights.
Speaking to the Press, at the end of the first phase of consultation of the Khoisan community, in the town of Fulai Muti, municipality of Cuito Cuanaval, Ângelo Cambera, executive secretary of the National Family Council, made it known that this first phase is reserved for general participatory diagnosis.
This is an exercise that will allow us to understand the entire vulnerability situation of the target group, to then prepare a report that will allow us to define the plan, with the joint involvement of the Ministers of Social Action and Culture.
Starting in July, he continued, the plan will be presented for discussion at the level of each of the provinces, and, after gathering consensus and approval at this level, it should be raised to the competent ministerial departments.
Another subsequent step, as Ângelo Cambera made known, is the submission, in August of this year, for approval by the Council of Ministers, in order to appear in the General State Budget for the 2025 economic year.
“This will be our schedule of actions and it is expected that in August 2024 the plan for inclusion and protection of the rights of minority groups in Angola will be approved by the Minister's Council”, he highlighted.
He stated that the aforementioned plan is an initiative of the Holder of the Executive Power and aims to bring a set of services to the targeted communities, as well as their greater integration from an economic, social, cultural and even political point of view.
Regarding the main problems already identified, he highlighted that there are many children outside the education system, the need for expanded literacy programs, as there are many young people who were unable to complete school, not even primary school, and the inclusion of young people in vocational training.
Another concern is related to the issue of gender, with raising awareness to avoid child marriage and early motherhood.
The consultation work, according to the person responsible, will provide a set of information that will allow the Executive to draw up an integration plan that is in accordance with the reality and wishes of the communities.
“They are the ones who must say what they really need, what the starting point of the social, economic and political integration of these populations should be”, he highlighted, adding that after Cuando Cubango the same exercise will be carried out in the provinces of Namibe, Huila and Cunene, later this month.
On this first day of consultation, the commission offered various food items such as corn and wheat flour, rice, fish, detergents and used clothing.
In addition to the Khoisans, the Mucubais and Cuipes ethnic-minority groups will also be consulted, in the interest of making the plan more inclusive and participatory.
He informed that, for the plan to be successful, the government also counts on knowledge of some work carried out at university level in the various provinces on the way of life of the communities in question, students, teachers and researchers in this area.
Social communication also plays a very important role in making the plan inclusive.
The program also reserves for this Thursday a consultation with members of the Khoisan community residing in the commune of Caiundo, which is 140 kilometers from Menongue, capital of Cuando Cubango, and on Friday the exercise will be in the commune of Jamba Cueio. MSM/FF/PLB/DOJ
