Namibe — The National Development Plan for 2013/2017 will have as theme "Stability, Growth and Employment", having as main goal the fight against hunger and poverty, as well as the increase of the living standards of Angolans, informed last Sunday, in Namibe City, the Angolan vice president, Manuel Vicente.

Delivering a speech at the central ceremony in the celebrations of the 37th anniversary of Angola's independence, marked on November 11, Manuel Vicente said that in view of this the State's General Budget for 2013 will pay special attention to the sectors of health, education, higher education, housing and social assistance, as instructed by the head of the Executive.

With a view to greater transparency and strictness in the execution of the State's General Budget the Executive defined mechanisms and rules that enable to assess the efficiency and quality of the expenses related to these sectors.

Another priority, he said, will be the sector of energy and waters, since it has great impact on the daily lives of citizens.

He recognised that despite the efforts and improvements that have been made, mainly in some inland regions, there is still a significant deficit in the capacity of electricity supply.

He announced that a wide programme of structural projects is being implemented at short and medium terms in the fields of production, transport and distribution of electricity.

Manuel Vicente added that the "Water for All" programme will reach execution levels that are superior to 80 per cent in urban zones and 40 per cent in rural areas, with a view to securing the access to potable water to at least 80% of the population.

The vice president emphasised that the programme proposed by the party that won the 2012 elections will be implemented to the benefit of the whole society, adding that the interests of the people and the nation are above all the conflicts and differences of opinion that there may be among the various actors of the country's political scene.

"We are in condition to preserve the achievements of the past and envisage the many things still left to be done to consolidate the democracy and rule of law", he assured.

Manuel Vicente valued the creation and implementation of economic policies that place Angola among the fastest growing countries in Africa and the world.

"Our objective, as leaders elected by the people, is to provide better dignity of life to the most vulnerable populations, guaranteeing social progress and development", he concluded.