The Angola Debt and Values Exchange (BODIVA) said today that the appointment as executive director of Cristina Lourenço, daughter of the Angolan President, João Lourenço, is a “homecoming” of that former employee of the institution.
In a press release distributed today, which Lusa agency had access to, BODIVA points out that Cristina Lourenço’s appointment last March arose from the need to complete the composition of the Board of Directors, following the resignation of one of its directors.
The document emphasizes that “the path and commitment as a BODIVA collaborator, between 2014 and 2016, and the management capacity demonstrated in the process of creating and implementing a structure unit of the Ministry of Finance, were the basis of this commission’s decision to invite an old board to assume the role “. “A homecoming”, highlights the note, recalling that, with the exception of its chairman, the executive committee in office since November 2019 is composed exclusively of BODIVA staff, “of proven academic and above all professional competence, who since their constitution dedicated and dedicate their knowledge, aptitude and zeal for the consolidation of the Angolan capital market “.
“Regarding legal procedures, it should be noted that, as a public limited company, governed by the rules applicable to public limited companies, the members of the governing bodies, which includes the Board of Directors, are elected by unanimous decision at the table of the General Assembly “, stresses BODIVA.
This note comes after recent news about political power in Angola, published by Jornal de Negócios, which has been criticized in various social circles in the country for what is classified as an “alleged act of nepotism”.
Many associate the issue with acts previously carried out by former Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos, who appointed children, such as Isabel dos Santos and José Filomeno “Zenu” dos Santos, for public office.
In order no. 2260/20, of May 5, the Ministry of Finance confirms the dismissal of Cristina Giovana Dias Lourenço, where she is a 2nd-class senior technician, to manage the Finance and Heritage and Communication and Exchange departments of the Angolan Stock Exchange.
“Avoidable and correctable distraction”
Angolan journalist and civic activist Rafael Marques today considered the appointment of the Angolan President’s daughter to public office as “an avoidable and correctable distraction”, saying that the process, which did not consider nepotism, “is inadvisable”.
“First, it is necessary to clarify that it is not an appointment made by the President, in fact the daughter of João Lourenço, even before he was President, had a role in the Ministry of Finance. But from the point of view of public opinion it would be highly advisable that the finance minister, responsible for the appointment, did not make it “, said Rafael Marques in statements to Lusa.
For the activist, who understands that the position “will not add value to Bodiva or the career of the daughter of the President of the Angolan Republic”, the ideal was Cristina Dias Lourenço “to resign from the position to safeguard the father’s image”, João Lourenço.
“The problem is solved and she [Cristina Dias Lourenço] even to safeguard the father’s image, he can personally present his resignation “, he defended.
According to the activist and president of the Angolan non-governmental organization (NGO) Ufolo – Study Center for Good Governance, “there is no case of nepotism, because it is not a nomination”.
“She [filha do PR angolano] holds a position, as there are other relatives of the President who hold positions in the public apparatus “, he noted.
For this reason, he stressed: “I do not think that this weakens the actions to fight corruption and nepotism, but in terms of public opinion it is inadvisable”.
Rafael Marques admitted that the issue he considers “preventable and correctable”, may “revive past traumas” in Angola with regard to the appointment of family members of officials to public positions.
“This may encourage governors and ministers to do the same, to appoint their relatives, but it is also necessary to remember that she already held a role in the Ministry of Finance and was not contested because it was a low profile role,” he said.
Asked if the children of politicians should not hold public office, Rafael Marques replied that the decisions “depend on the circumstances”, affirming, however, that people with a career in the civil service “should not be harmed because of their parents”.
“But, I think it is an avoidable distraction and that corrects itself. Cristina can give a great example of support to her father, presenting her resignation”, she stressed.
The Angolan journalist said that there are still many sectors of Angolan society, “including within the Government and MPLA”, a party in power, and abroad that “bet on the failure” of João Lourenço, “for touching on many installed national and international interests. foreigners”.
“Including many Portuguese interests installed in Angola who were used to the big corruption schemes”, he pointed out.
And, he added: “People are going to pick up any irrelevant question, suddenly people found out that Bodiva does a great thing”.
As for Angolans “want change”, being “essential that the President and his family are advised to avoid these distractions”, he concluded.
The fight against corruption has been a flag of the Government of João Lourenço, in power for three years, but which is criticized by some sectors for allegedly making a selective choice of the targets of justice, namely relatives of his predecessor, José Eduardo dos Santos.
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