Malanje — Angola's National Assembly (Parliament) speaker, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, Tuesday in northern Malanje province, highlighted the heroism of the Angolan people in the conquest of national independence.

Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos was addressing the main event of the celebrations of the National Independence Day, November 11, at Hoji Ya Henda Square, in Malanje city.

According to him, on November 11, 1975, following 14 years of a heroic armed struggle, full of sacrifice, with much bloodshed, sweating and tears, the Angolan people solemnly proclaimed, before Africa and the world, its National Independence, thus getting freed from the colonial oppression it was under for about 500 years.

"Today is a day of joy, of feast and reflection. We must reflect and learn from all its teachings and look at the future with faith, trust and certainty in a better life," he said.

Accompanying Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos are the ministers of Territory Administration, Virgílio Fontes Pereira, Defence, Kundi Paiyama, and Family ad Women Promotion, Genoveva Lino.

The delegation includes the deputy speaker of the National Assembly, Joana Lina, and the first secretary of the Parliament's Table, Carlos Magalhães.