Spotlight

The latest press coverage on corruption, human rights abuses, violations of freedom of the press and socio-economic exclusion in Angola, every Wednesday on Maka Angola:

OkayPLayer: Why Did the Angolan Gov’t Frame & Beat a Rapper?
July 19, 2012: Angolan/Portuguese rapper Luaty Beirão aka Ikonoklasta, is an outspoken opponent of Angola’s long-term president José Eduardo dos Santos and his MPLA government. Beirão spoke candidly about the state of Angola’s politics to Okayafrica’s Lukasz Polowczyk from the safety of Portugal, where he’s currently awaiting trial for drug smuggling, a charge the Angolan government framed him for. Beirão says that he will die fighting the government for justice, adding that he is headed back to Angola on July 25th to continue the protest ahead of presidential elections there on August 31.

AllAfrica/Institute for Security Studies: War Vets’ Protests a Chilling Reminder of a Regional Cancer
July 19, 2012: Last week, disgruntled Angolan war veterans threatened to stage yet another round of protests to claim unpaid pensions. The veterans want a lump sum demobilisation gratuity of around 55 000 kwanzas ($550) and a monthly pension. Thousands of Angola’s war veterans have not been adequately integrated into society, through, for instance, being offered financial guarantees, vocational rehabilitation assistance and post-war trauma counselling. Occupying an important place in Angola’s body politic, the group has become increasingly visible and vocal as a political force. In June, discontented war veterans, though small in number, flexed their muscle and staged protest marches to the presidential palace and the Ministry of Defence.

The Citizen: Africa’s richest woman and her fabulous wealth
July 15, 2012: Isabel dos Santos, the eldest daughter of Angola’s President, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, is now considered to be the most powerful and richest woman in her country and on the continent, possessing  legit nine-figure fortunes.Isabel is worth to be $170 million (Sh272 billion),  according to Forbes Magazine. At the tender age of 24, Isabel got her start in business, thanks to her father’s influence to corner lucrative state contracts. Having kept close ties with Portugal, Isabel fully owns a Maltese-registered investment, plus a 10 per cent in Zon Multimedia, a Portuguese media conglomerate.