Elections in Angola Peaceful Despite “a few glitches”: Catholic Entity Official

He added in reference to the voter turnout in Angola’s capital, “By 12 midday, in some of the polling stations in and around Luanda, only 100 plus voters out of about 600 registered voters on an electoral list” had cast their votes.

Angola's ruling party, the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which has been in power for nearly five decades, is reportedly leading the polls with a 52% majority, while their main competitor, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) is trailing with 42% of the valid votes.   

In the August 25 interview, Fr. Epalanga who was one of the 36 CEAST observers said he noted the challenge of transparency in the tallying centers, saying, “In some polling stations electoral commissioners did not display the results for observers.” 

The member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits – SJ) added, “CEAST Executive Secretary - Fr. Hilário Correia - was denied access to a copy of the results … because the ruling party at that specific polling station had lost.”

According to the CCJP official, Angola’s ruling party, “MPLA, lost in almost every polling station in Luanda, and we have the results from each of the polling stations where CEAST observers were present.”

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Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, South Africa, dozens of Angolans cast their vote at the Angolan Consulate in Bruma. For the first time, Angolans residing in South Africa were given permission to vote in one of the three polling stations in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town. 

In an interview with ACI Africa, Jorge Diaz who migrated to South Africa 20 years ago said Angolans in the diaspora had wanted to vote for years. 

“We wanted to participate with the country as well, in choosing the next leader,” Mr. Diaz said during the Wednesday, August 24 interview, and added that voting was “a joyful moment… a good experience.”

In another interview with ACI Africa CEAST Executive Secretary, Fr. Hilário Correia said, “The Catholic Bishops have called on the people of God to continue to embrace fraternity, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence during this period.”

Sheila Pires is a veteran radio and television Mozambican journalist based in South Africa. She studied communications at the University of South Africa. She is passionate about writing on the works of the Church through Catholic journalism.