United Methodists in Angola play role in election
Angolan United Methodist bishops lay hands on a new
pastor during a 2006 ordination service at the West Angola Annual
Conference in Luanda. The United Methodist Church in Angola was active
in encouraging voter participation in last month’s parliamentary
election. A UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose. |
A UMNS Report
By Elliott Wright*
Oct. 8, 2008
The United Methodist Church in Angola played an active role in promoting
citizen participation in the early September parliamentary election,
the first since 1992 in the long-conflicted former Portuguese colony.
New members of Parliament were sworn in Oct. 1. A day later President
Jose Eduardo dos Santos, leader of the party that won 80 percent of the
vote, named a 35-member cabinet, half of whom are new faces. A
presidential election is set for 2009.
Last July, two active and two retired United Methodist bishops in Angola
issued a public appeal to all men and women of voting age to register
and to exercise the right to vote Sept. 5. "Voting is a sacred and
patriotic must," they declared.
Even earlier, many pastors began appealing to their congregations on a
weekly basis to become involved in the electoral process. The church
took no partisan positions in the campaign that pitted the Popular
Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the party of President dos
Santos, against its longtime opponent, Union of the Total Liberation of
Angola (UNITA). There were a dozen parties and 5,000 candidates in the
contest. UNITA won only 10 percent of the parliamentary seats.
Voice of the church
"We make our voice heard at this hour…," said the United Methodist
bishops' appeal, "and we, the United Methodist people in Angola, are
highly committed to Africa and the world, to participate in the second
parliamentary election in our country."
Signers included Bishop Gaspar Joao Domingos of West Angola and Bishop
Jose Quipungo of East Angola, along with retired Bishops Emilio J.M. de
Carvalho and Moises D. Fernandes.
"Now, more than ever, let us choose calm and tranquility," they said.
They advocated a "fraternal spirit and same friendship" and a process of
reconciliation symbolized by depositing votes in a ballot box. The
church also used the public media to promote voter registration and
balloting.
Some 88 percent of 8 million registered voters turned out Sept. 5 at
14,000 polling places. The country has slightly more than 13 million
people.
Overcoming civil war
After Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975, MPLA and UNITA
fought a devastating civil war for a total of 27 years, destroying the
country's infrastructure and disrupting everyday life. MPLA won an
election in 1992, but UNITA refused to accept the results and resumed
the armed struggle. The conflict lasted until a truce was arranged in
2002. This time, UNITA has conceded its rejection at the polls.
Since 2002, Angolan United Methodists have worked to restore not only
their own congregations and institutions but also to contribute to the
rebuilding of the country as a whole. The 100-year-old Quéssua Mission
in the East Angola Conference was reopened in 2006. It provides
educational and some health services.
One major task has been the repatriation of thousands of people who fled
during the armed conflict. The United Methodist Committee on Relief
worked closely with the church in Angola in this process.
Angola is today second only to Nigeria in the production of oil on the
African continent. The oil revenues have the potential of raising the
social and economic conditions of the mostly poor population.
Mission background
Missionaries from what is now The United Methodist Church arrived in
Angola in 1884, and a strong network of churches and schools developed.
In 1972, de Carvalho became the first indigenous bishop. The civil
conflict that began in the mid-1960s destabilized the church. Today,
statistics on membership and the number of congregations are difficult
to confirm, but significant steps have been made in reopening
congregations and reestablishing schools.
Despite its relatively small size, The United Methodist Church in
Angola, through its educational institutions, has produced a significant
number of professional and civic leaders.
Assessments differ as to whether the Sept. 5 elections were fair. A headline in Africa Focus Bulletin
said: "Election Free and Fair--Sort Of." There was no major
international monitoring effort. Human Watch, an international agency,
reported Sept. 15 that there were "numerous irregularities" and media
bias on the side of MPLA. The organization recommended the Angolan
election commission be retooled before the presidential election next
year.
While expressing relief that the election was peaceful, several analysts
have warned that Angola might easily slip into a one-party state run by
MPLA. However, other reports indicate that the strong showing of
President dos Santos' party was in large measure the result of voter
reaction to UNITA's recourse to war after the 1992 election.
*Wright is the information officer of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
Related articles
Head of state admits hard work for government
United Methodists host net partners in Angola
Orphans in Angola grow up ‘in hands of church
Malaria, poverty kill children in Angola
Resources
All Africa.com: Angola headlines
Board of Global Ministries |
Translate
Korean News
