Polls open in Angola's third elections since 1975

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National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) supporters listen to a speech of their leader Isaias Samakuva (unseen) during the final rally campaign on August 29, 2012 in Luanda. Polls opened Friday in Angola's third election in 37 years, widely expected to return long-ruling President Jose Eduardo dos Santos to power  AFP

By AFP
Posted  Friday, August 31  2012 at  10:06

IN SUMMARY

• The People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), in power since independence from Portugal in 1975, is expected to sweep to victory.

LUANDA

Polls opened Friday in Angola's third election in 37 years, widely expected to return long-ruling President Jose Eduardo dos Santos to power in the oil-rich nation despite a revitalised opposition movement.

From 7:00 am (0600 GMT) voters headed to more than 10,000 schools and colleges across the southern African country to cast ballots for parliamentarians, with the leader of the winning party set to become president.

The People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), in power since independence from Portugal in 1975, is expected to sweep to victory which would hand Dos Santos, Africa's second-longest ruling leader, another five years in office.

Voting got off to a slow start. About 30 people lined up to cast ballots at a technical college in Boa Vista, a seaside slum next to Luanda's port where shack dwellings are collapsing down the hillside.

"I came here to vote because I want to see some change in our country," said jobless Emmanuel Mpulenga, 23.

During his 33 years in power, Dos Santos has centralised power in the presidency, dominating Angolan politics and exerting a strong role in business in Africa's number two oil producer.

His family, notably his daughter Isabel, has built an international business empire, but has also poured billions of dollars into rebuilding the country after 41 years of armed conflict -- 14 years of liberation struggle and 27 years of civil war.

The main opposition Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita) battled the government until its feared leader Jonas Savimbi was killed by the army in 2002.

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As an opposition party, Unita has struggled to find a base, taking only 10 percent of the vote in 2008 elections. Party leader Isaias Samakuva has campaigned mainly by calling for transparency and denouncing alleged flaws in the voter roll of 9.7 million people.

On the eve of the polls he tried in vain to hold talks with Dos Santos over his concerns of irregularities but the authorities insisted the poll was on track.

The traditional rivals now face a new threat in Casa, created in April by a former Unita official Abel Chivukuvuku who joined forces with a high profile MPLA defector, civil society and smaller opposition groups.

He has actively courted Angola's young voters, promising better jobs and living conditions for a nation where 55 percent of the population lives in abject poverty.

Voter Abel Franscico Sibalanga, who was the first in the queue, said he was at the polling station two hours before it was due to open.

"I came here early because voting is important for our country," he said.

Voting will close 11 hours later, with results expected to start coming in over the weekend. A final result could take around five days.

The National Electoral Commission said more than 97,000 observers from the nine parties contesting Friday's general elections had been accredited to watch over the vote.

Party observers were the first to cast ballots to allow them to watch the vote.