She took office as governor of Huambo in May 2020, but Lotti Nolika has known this place since she was born and has made history by being the second woman governor of the province. She was previously municipal administrator and vice-governor and is also a member of the Council of the Republic. In this sense, she knows every corner of the province well, while recognising its potential, and acknowledging the importance of the Aldeia Camela Amões project.
What is the importance of Aldeia Camela Amões for the province?
It is undoubtedly a model village that could be copied throughout the country, or even the continent. We are following the project with great interest, as it is a private initiative and without a doubt in the public interest. Aldeia Camela Amões has conditions to be an example of food self-sustainability and we are already starting to see good agricultural development.
In terms of economic and social development, what has been achieved in Huambo in recent times?
It isn’t very different here than in other provinces, bearing in mind the somewhat unfavourable situation we are going through in macroeconomic terms, but even so we have carried out various actions. There are many projects in the pipeline, and by these I’m referring to school and health facilities. We have important works underway in Huambo, such as a regional training centre for journalism, which will house young people from the province, from various parts of the country and also from Southern Africa. Similarly, work is under way on the Technology Training Centre, which is the second most important in Angola.
«Huambo has great agricultural potential»
Will we soon see the province once again becoming a place that attracts industries?
We want it to be. We were once the second largest industrial hub in the country and we are currently creating conditions to give Huambo that status. The area where various infrastructures will be located is already planned, and some of them have already been built. We have the great advantage of being on the Benguela railway corridor, which goes to Zambia, and with that, along with other conditions, we will certainly have new investors here. We already have some industry, which has led to a drop in the number of unemployed, but more is needed. The war took us back to zero and we have been lifting the province back onto its feet by creating conditions for national and foreign investment.
What are the biggest attractions in Huambo for an investor?
Huambo has great agricultural potential. It has fertile land, a good hydrographic basin, with many rivers, and was once considered the breadbasket of Angola. We believe it will be so again. We have the municipalities connected by paved roads, and we are now in the phase of levelling secondary roads in cultivable areas, so that producers can easily take their products to the markets. We have mineral resources, such as rare-earth elements in the municipality of Longonjo. Huambo has everything to succeed. It has a good climate, good people and many young people to work.
There are also many young people who are still at university…
Huambo is also known as an academic city. There are universities that cater for certain sectors of the country that only exist here, such as the Agronomic Research Institute, which has existed since the 1950s and has trained many engineers. We have the Veterinary Research Institute, which is unique in the country. We are a developing power.
«I would very much like to see this province become a national example»
As governor, what would you like to see accomplished soon?
I would like to complete, as soon as possible, the structure of the Industrial Park in order to attract investors and create more jobs, which would be a way for us to keep the young people who finish their courses in the province and at the same time reduce the poverty rates that are still considerable.
And what is still lacking for the province to make that great leap forward?
We need to have better financial conditions, I believe that 2022 will be more favourable and we can begin to build our goals, both in the private and public sectors. I would love to see this province as a national example. I know the potential that is here in our land because I was born and raised here and I will certainly remain here until the end of my days.
What is the importance of Aldeia Camela Amões for the province?
It is undoubtedly a model village that could be copied throughout the country, or even the continent. We are following the project with great interest, as it is a private initiative and without a doubt in the public interest. Aldeia Camela Amões has conditions to be an example of food self-sustainability and we are already starting to see good agricultural development.
In terms of economic and social development, what has been achieved in Huambo in recent times?
It isn’t very different here than in other provinces, bearing in mind the somewhat unfavourable situation we are going through in macroeconomic terms, but even so we have carried out various actions. There are many projects in the pipeline, and by these I’m referring to school and health facilities. We have important works underway in Huambo, such as a regional training centre for journalism, which will house young people from the province, from various parts of the country and also from Southern Africa. Similarly, work is under way on the Technology Training Centre, which is the second most important in Angola.
«Huambo has great agricultural potential»
Will we soon see the province once again becoming a place that attracts industries?
We want it to be. We were once the second largest industrial hub in the country and we are currently creating conditions to give Huambo that status. The area where various infrastructures will be located is already planned, and some of them have already been built. We have the great advantage of being on the Benguela railway corridor, which goes to Zambia, and with that, along with other conditions, we will certainly have new investors here. We already have some industry, which has led to a drop in the number of unemployed, but more is needed. The war took us back to zero and we have been lifting the province back onto its feet by creating conditions for national and foreign investment.
What are the biggest attractions in Huambo for an investor?
Huambo has great agricultural potential. It has fertile land, a good hydrographic basin, with many rivers, and was once considered the breadbasket of Angola. We believe it will be so again. We have the municipalities connected by paved roads, and we are now in the phase of levelling secondary roads in cultivable areas, so that producers can easily take their products to the markets. We have mineral resources, such as rare-earth elements in the municipality of Longonjo. Huambo has everything to succeed. It has a good climate, good people and many young people to work.
There are also many young people who are still at university…
Huambo is also known as an academic city. There are universities that cater for certain sectors of the country that only exist here, such as the Agronomic Research Institute, which has existed since the 1950s and has trained many engineers. We have the Veterinary Research Institute, which is unique in the country. We are a developing power.
«I would very much like to see this province become a national example»
As governor, what would you like to see accomplished soon?
I would like to complete, as soon as possible, the structure of the Industrial Park in order to attract investors and create more jobs, which would be a way for us to keep the young people who finish their courses in the province and at the same time reduce the poverty rates that are still considerable.
And what is still lacking for the province to make that great leap forward?
We need to have better financial conditions, I believe that 2022 will be more favourable and we can begin to build our goals, both in the private and public sectors. I would love to see this province as a national example. I know the potential that is here in our land because I was born and raised here and I will certainly remain here until the end of my days.
