Ambassador Mozena wraps-up visit to Kwanza-Sul province

U.S. Ambassador Dan Mozena shares his agricultural experience with farmers of Kwanza Sul province.

U.S. Ambassador to Angola, Dan W. Mozena wraped his second official trip outside the capital city of Angola, Luanda. During a April 8-10 visit to Kwanza Sul province, Ambassador Mozena discussed the building of a peaceful, secure, democratic, healthy and prosperous Angola with government and traditional leaders, civil society representatives, and electoral officials.

The Ambassador and his wife Grace were particularly pleased by the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful interior of the province while visiting USG-sponsored projects in the region. While touring demining projects supported by United States government assistance and administered by Norweigan People's Aid, the ambassador noted the critical importance that clearing land of the explosive remnants of war plays in returning land to productive use, restoring access to water and enabling economic growth.

In a visit to the rural village of Zambia, the Ambassador toured fields that were once heavily mined and unusable, but today are producing bananas, peppers, and cabbage for the village after being demined, with the assistance of the United States government. The Ambassador also met with local coffee farmers and the Cooperative League of the United States (CLUSA) to learn more about the rebirth of the region's coffee industry. CLUSA, which is sponsored by people of the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Chevron, is connecting small farmers with micro credit and training on modern coffee production techniques to help them increase production.

The Ambassador then traveled to Kibala, where he toured health clinics and the municipal hospital to discuss malaria prevention and treatment assistance currently being provided by the people of the United States, through USAID and Esso and in partnership with the Angolan Ministry of Health. The Ambassador noted that the United States government, through President Bush's Malaria Initiative, will give Angola USD 18.5 million to fight malaria this year. He also highlighted the importance of winning the fight against malaria, stating "I hate malaria - it is a thief that steals our children and kills them. But it doesn't have to be that way, malaria can be prevented and treated. I'm pleased that the government and people of America have joined with the government and people of Angola to beat this disease and protect the children of Angola. These children are the future, they are the key to building the new Angola."

The Ambassador and his wife also distributed solar-powered lanterns to local school children. These lanterns, part of an Esso-sponsored project in the region, help children study at night and improve their education.