Benguela, Angola, April 16, 2026 (Lusa) - The leader of Angola’s main opposition party, UNITA, has identified siltation and the absence of barrier maintenance as the basic reason for the Cavaco River overflowing in Benguela province after the recent heavy rains, criticising the government for its lack of planning.
Adalberto Costa Júnior, who visited Benguela on Tuesday and Wednesday to meet with families affected by Sunday's floods, questioned hydraulic engineers about the reasons for the river overflowing, criticised the government for its lack of organisation and planning and delivered some essential supplies.
“Because an identical tragedy occurred in this province in 2015, affecting Lobito and Catumbela, and this time a major tragedy in Benguela, I hope there will be as little loss of life as possible, but here it was perfectly possible to identify the reason,” he said, pointing to the river silting and the lack of maintenance of the barriers as the primary reason.
“Understanding the cost of the river silting up did not strike us as too high; it did not seem to us to be a question of limited resources, but rather an organisational issue that needs to be improved (…).”
“We were accompanied by MPs and, undoubtedly, we will share the findings with the government, with those responsible for government action, to ensure this does not happen again,” he said.
At least 19 people have died, with several others missing and over 3,600 displaced because of Sunday's floods in Benguela, following heavy rainfall which caused the Cavaco River to burst its banks after the protective dyke broke.
The victims are currently being housed in temporary camps, which were also visited on Wednesday by president João Lourenço as he assessed the damage across the province.
Additionally, Costa Júnior criticised the stopgap measures that were allegedly being taken to reinforce the river barriers following the reduction in water flow.
“Immediate action should not be a stopgap measure, because it is being carried out in the same way that led to the disaster; there is no reinforcement of the barrier and, under these conditions, it is not the proper solution,” he said.
On Wednesday, on his social media, the UNITA leader wrote that he was leaving Benguela "with a heavy heart, but with a mind enlightened by listening to [those] who know", emphasising that engineers and experts had offered more than just diagnoses, they offered clear paths.
"The tragedy we mourn today could have been avoided with planning, effective drainage and political decision-making. Those who govern must serve. And to serve is to protect lives. State resources exist for that purpose. We already know what to do. All that is missing is the will: to open the coffers and act," he added in a post on his official Facebook page.
DAS/MYAL // AYLS
Lusa
