USAID/OTI Angola Field Report
October 2003
Program Description
The OTI program in Angola was initiated in February 2003 to support the renewed opportunity for a lasting peace and increased democracy following the end of 40 years of violent conflict. OTI is providing support in three areas: strengthened civil society advocacy capacity; strengthening media; and local-level engagement between citizens and authorities to address community problems. OTI's implementing partner is Creative Associates and the FY 2003 budget is approximately $2.8 million.
Country Situation
October was a significant month for Angola's civil society. On October 4, more than a thousand Angolans marched in protest of the government's failure to set a date for nationwide elections. The peaceful march was organized by a coalition of opposition political parties, and was the first "authorized" anti-government demonstration to occur since the civil war ended in April 2002. The protesters were permitted to complete their march despite the chanting of the slogans "down with dictatorship" and "out with the ruling MPLA." The protest drew the first public comment on election dates from President dos Santos, who admitted that discussions on elections were taking place within the government and that there appeared to be a growing consensus around the holding of elections in 2005. However, dos Santos warned that the potential 2005 date was entirely dependant upon on the government's ability to complete extensive preparatory tasks leading up to the elections.
On October 13, UNITA president Isaias Samakuva announced his candidature for the Angolan presidency. His announcement follows that of Vicente Pinto De Andrade (independent), Carlos Contreiras (Republican Party of Angola), Analia De Vitoria Pereira, (Democratic Liberal Party), and Reverend Feliciano Loa (independent and a member of the Afro-European Congregation). When asked about his plans, President dos Santos replied that, without an election law, it was premature to comment on whether he would announce himself as a candidate.
In late October, the government focused on promoting civilian disarmament. On October 25, the Angolan Home Minister Osvaldo de Jesus Serra Van-Dunen appealed to citizens in Benguela to voluntarily surrender their weapons to police. His remarks coincided with the government-sponsored National Civilians Disarming Week. The home minister also announced the pending passage of a parliamentary Weapons Ownership and Disarming of Civilians Act. The government had undertaken a citizen disarmament campaign following the ceasefire agreement last year, but the program drew less than 10% of the guns believed to be in circulation, and officials estimate that approximately one third of Angola's population is still armed. Experts claim that the reluctance of civilians to surrender their weapons is caused at least in part by an ongoing sense of insecurity among Angolan civilians, some of whom fear a return to violent conflict. Members of the opposition UNITA have expressed concern that small arms will be used to destabilize communities and intimidate voters during the upcoming elections.
The remains of 589 people have been exhumed from the city of Kuito in Bie province. Approximately 5,000 soldiers, police officers and civilians were hurriedly buried in Kuito's houses, churches and parks in the decade between 1992 and the end of the war. The bodies of the exhumed have been reburied in Monument Cemetery, approximately 10 kilometers north of Kuito. The exhumation process began on October 13th and will continue indefinitely, with expected interruptions during the rainy season.
OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
During the month of October, OTI continued to develop new grants and implement existing activities. Staff traveled to Benguela, Huila and Huambo provinces to meet with grantees, develop new grants and monitor existing activities. Highlights of OTI grant activities in October include:
- In follow up to an OTI-funded event held in August which brought together NGOs and governmental officials in southern Angola, NGOs in Cunene province organized a conference on water intended to pressure local governments to improve the quality of water services.
- A radio conference and community meeting were held in Huila province in which community members had an opportunity to raise concerns with a member of the Angolan National Assembly.
- Continued distribution of a Citizenship and Human Rights bulletin by a journalist coalition in three municipalities of Huila province, accompanied by weekly radio programs.
- To date, 55 community debates focusing on local issues such as land access, reintegration of ex-combatants and community self-help have been held in 8 communities in Benguela province.
- Construction continued on 6 schools, most of which will be completed and inaugurated in November and December.
- Weekly community debates were held in the Cazenga neighborhood in Luanda, in which more than 50 local authorities and community members discussed peace building and community reconciliation strategies.
- Community debates and informational workshops were held in three municipalities in Benguela province, in which community members and local authorities discussed land issues and access to land.
Two new OTI grants were approved in October:
- National Counseling Center: OTI will support this NGO to develop radio programs on peace and reconciliation. The programs will be titled "Voices of Peace" and recorded in Portuguese and local languages for dissemination on two radio stations.
- The Free Education Coalition (Coligaçâo Ensino Gratuito): This NGO consortium is dedicated to advocacy for citizens' rights to free education. OTI will provide support for the preparation and distribution of informational materials to be used in advocacy campaigns. OTI support will complement other USAID support provided to this coalition.
In October, OTI held its second strategy planning workshop. During the three day retreat, staff focused on addressing internal coordination issues and staff responsibilities; monitoring and evaluation needs and strategies; and revalidated OTI's current strategy. OTI staff also conducted visits to two provinces, Huila and Benguela for an array of meetings with local government officials, international organizations and local NGOs to discuss land issues and develop strategies for a series of grants intended to strengthen provincial capacity for land advocacy and land conflict management.
B. Grants Activity Summary
| Media Strengthening |
$0 |
0 |
| Civil Society Advocacy Capacity |
$65,250 |
2 |
| Citizen Engagement with Local Authorities |
$0 |
0 |
| TOTAL (May 2003) |
$ 65,250 |
2 |
| TOTAL (FY 2003) |
$1,096,599 |
27 |
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
OTI will continue to travel to the field to monitor and develop new grants during November. OTI staff will also continue to focus on exploring possibilities to link OTI activities to other USAID-funded humanitarian and developmental relief activities, particularly in Bie, Huila, Huambo, and Benguela provinces.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington: Angela Martin at 202-712-5434, amartin@usaid.gov
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