Catholic Archbishop in Angola Urges Politicians to “set aside internal problems”, Attend to People’s Needs

Saurimo, 10 April, 2025 / 2:38 AM

Archbishop José Manuel Imbamba of the Catholic Archdiocese of Saurimo in Angola has challenged politicians in the country to use the time they spend on internal problems to address the needs of the people instead.

In an interview with Angola’s National Television (TPA), Archbishop Imbamba weighed in on the 50th anniversary of the independence of Angola scheduled for November, emphasizing the need to consolidate peace and unity in the country.

“We cannot talk about social peace while our inner being is filled with hatred, resentment, intolerance, envy, rancor, and vengeance — negative feelings that dwell within us,” the Angolan Catholic Archbishop said in the interview that was published on April 8.

He added, “As long as we do not rid ourselves of these feelings, as long as we do not undergo what I call an inner purge, we will not truly be able to cement this great achievement, this great gain we have.”

“I appeal for our politicians to open up more to Angola, to open up more to the citizen, to forget about the militant for a while, to set aside internal problems, and immerse themselves in the needs of the people,” the Angolan Catholic Bishop, who serves as the President of the Bishops' Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST) said.

Archbishop Imbamba went to express concern about peace in Angola, which seems to be “more of a political issue, more of a party issue.”

He said the absence of war is not a guarantee of peace, emphasizing the need to “understand that the process of peace and reconciliation is a social process as a whole.”

“The entire society must be involved, the whole family must be involved, all institutions must be involved,” Archbishop Imbamba said.

In the April 8 interview with TPA, the Local Ordinary of Saurimo lamented on the inability of Angolans to resolve their problems.

“We are getting used to revolving around the same problems; it seems we want to get out, but in reality, we are not moving forward. We cannot continue to live on incessant promises, promises that never materialize,” he said.

Archbishop Imbamba went on to lament Angola's social challenges, saying, “Our hearts break when we encounter these realities. This is because there are regions where there is no television, no electricity, no water, no movement of people and goods, no access to healthcare, and the roads are terrible.”

“There is a need for us to stop. There is a real need to ensure that the country grows in a harmonious way, without these imbalances that make some people well off, while others still live in poverty and misery, with nothing,” the Catholic Church leader said.

He called on members of the government to “travel around the country, to visit various regions. They must go to the most remote areas, feel the roads we have, experience the difficulties we live in, and listen to what the people have to say.”