Gains of 36 years of independence highlighted

Angola, Luanda - The proclamation of the national independence on November 11, 1975 constitutes an indelible landmark in the history of the Angolan people substantiated in the retrieval of sovereignty and freedom.  This was said Wednesday in Luanda by the minister of Territory Administration, Bornito de Sousa.  The official was speaking at a lecture on "Gains of the national independence” run for staff of the three branches of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), as part of the celebrations of the 36th anniversary of the country’s independence from colonial rule on Friday.  He said that with the formal proclamation of independence, Angolans won the right to outline their own path towards development.  Bornito de Sousa stated that Angola had about 2.5 million students at the non-university level of education in 2002, a figure that has risen to more than six million to date.  Thanks to investment in education, the minister said, Angola has now about 150,000 university students, a number that he said is currently on the rise.  He also mentioned the country’s achievements in sports, telecommunication and information technologies, culture, macro-economic stability and infrastructures with highlight to the construction of roads, bridges, railways, airports and social housing.  "Today, with the opening of the roads and railways, the development of the north and east will be more visible,” stressed the minister of Territory Administration.  According to him, all this has not been achieved by chance but instead through an integrated development programme designed by Angolan Government covering several areas.  The lecture that took place in the Luanda Naval Base was attended by the chief of Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), gen. Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda, and other high and low ranking officers.