Rafael Savimbi, son of late Angolan rebel leader Jonas Savimbi, is a candidate in the country’s first post-civil war elections, which he sees as a chance for national unity and democratic process.
As leader of Angola’s main opposition party, Unita, Jonas Savimbi led a 27-year bush war against the ruling MPLA party that ended when he was killed by government troops in 2002.
Almost one million people died in the war that left about four million internally displaced and devastated the Southern African nation’s roads, bridges and communications.
Now, Rafael, who holds a degree in business from a university in Ghana, says Angola is on the verge of becoming a peaceful democracy as Angolans try to put their war-shattered past behind them.
Angola has bounced back enough to rival Nigeria as Africa’s biggest oil producer and is one of the continent’s fastest growing economies.
Rafael is the only one of Savimbi’s several children to run on the Unita ticket in the September 5 elections, in which 14 parties will contest 220 seats in Parliament.
”Our fight now is one of national reconciliation,” said Rafael, seated at his desk at Unita’s headquarters in the capital, Luanda.
”There were many deaths on the side of Unita and deaths on the side of the MPLA. Now we have the chance to prove that we are finally ready to unite.”
Poll ‘already a victory’
Rafael (29), tall like his father, said Unita was seeking to win a majority in Parliament, but the fact that elections were taking place at all he considered a victory for the country’s main opposition party.
The MPLA is widely expected to retain or increase its majority in Parliament against a divided and underfunded opposition.
While Unita emphasises change as the basis for its political message, pointing to social exclusion, poverty and widespread unemployment, the MPLA claims credit for peace and stability as the only party with governing experience.
”It was Unita who put pressure on the government to hold elections. I consider these elections a victory for Unita,” he said. ”Now it is crucial for Angola to continue holding elections every four years.”
Jonas Savimbi was on the losing side of Angola’s first elections in 1992, and rather than admit defeat he declared the poll to be rigged and returned to the bush to resume guerrilla warfare.
This time around, the son of Jonas, who was born in the bush during the war, expects things to be different.
”The experience of the past was very negative for the Angolan people. We now want to move forward. People just want a better future.”
He said his father, revered by his followers as one of Africa’s most charismatic leaders but branded an unnecessary warmonger by critics, remained an example of strength and character to himself.
”As a father and also as the former leader of Unita, I consider him to be a man that accomplished his mission,” he said. ”But just because I am his son does not mean I am a better person.”
Savimbi works as the diplomatic assistant to the current Unita president, Isaias Samakuva, a former Unita ambassador in Europe. — Reuters