Luanda – The Angolan head of State and acting chairman of the
Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), José Eduardo dos Santos, said
Friday in Luanda that staging of demonstrations "follows a principle enshrined
in the Constitutions of States”.
The Angolan head of State who was speaking about the
freedom of speech, assembly and demonstration, said however these rights should
be exercised in compliance with the law.
In Angola there have been demonstrations by groups that for
the time being are not large, speaking to express certain wills and interests,
the head of State admitted.
"It is obvious that we seek to see these wills and
interests within a general interest,” said the president, adding that "when we
deal with governing the country (…) we look at all groups of the society,
including the youth.”
José Eduardo dos Santos was speaking at the end of the
Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern Africa
Development Community (SADC).
He recalled that there are specific programmes designed for
the youth, which includes training and education that are on the rise.
The president added there is a great effort to upgrade
trained people as the country needs more and more skilled manpower for the tasks
of national reconstruction and development.
"I should underline too that some times we follow
patterns, want to imitate what others do, and often these imitations result in
negative practises, in the search of models that do not suit our traditions, our
habits, our customs and even the laws that we adopt,” he stated.
However, the head of State added, even in these cases there
is always a pedagogic action for education, promotion of civic and moral values,
with a view to an inclusive development of the youth.
On the other hand, president Jose Eduardo dos Santos explained
that this matter has not yet been placed on the SADC agenda for treatment as a
regional phenomenon.
He added that each country has been treating the phenomenon
within the limits of its borders, as phenomena resulting from the evolution of
the national societies.
Shifting topic, the head of State said that in its
governing exercise Angola respects the principle of good governance.
"This does not mean to say that there are no difficulties.
We are young nations, many of which in consolidation stage. Angola particularly
is in a phase of reconstruction,” the president also said.
The principle of good governance is always respected, he said,
adding that measures of transparency in the management of the public assets have
always been adopted.
There is an almost free access to all State budget details,
including on Internet, Jose Eduardo stated, stressing that "this is part of the
exercise of transparency and good governance.”
Luanda hosted from May 31 to June 1 an Extraordinary
Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern Africa Development
Community (SADC), attended by 14 of the regional organisations 15 member
countries.
