Luanda — The leader of MPLA João Lourenço Monday highlighted the work performed by the former Head of State and President Emeritus of the country's largest political party, José Eduardo dos Santos, for the party and Nation's growth.

José Eduardo dos Santos passed away last Friday in Barcelona, Kingdom of Spain, at the age of 79, due to illness. He had been in the office for 38 years, until September 2017, being succeeded by the current Head of State.

João Lourenço, also President of the Republic, addressing the deepest feelings of sorrow to the bereaved family."

In this moment of deep pain and consternation the party's militants, sympathizers and friends, as well as Angolans in general, pay deep tribute to his memory for all that President Emeritus José Eduardo dos Santos had done, for political party and the Nation's growth. ", he expressed.

The president also stressed the need to continue to fight and work for Peace and National Reconciliation among all Angolans.

In turn, the MPLA vice-president, Luísa Damião, said that they lost a combatant who embraced the MPLA's ideals from a very young age and, at the age of 37, took over, with high patriotism, the country's destiny at a particularly hard time.

The former secretary general of the ruling MPLA party's women wing (OMA), Luzia Inglês, said that she has many memories of José Eduardo dos Santos, who met him in December 1969, in Moscow and, since then, their relationship had been always of friendship, camaraderie and solidarity.

Also praised the former president José Eduardo dos Santos deeds were Rui Falcão, secretary for information of MPLA Politburo, who described José Eduardo dos Santos as "a great patriot and an above-average intellectual"

Whereas, the militant Pedro Sebastião Teta, considered the president emeritus José Eduardo dos Santos as a teacher, master and father, with whom he worked for 30 years in the party and in the government.