Signed contract for rehabilitation of the emblematic boat Zaire.

Lobito - A contract for the rehabilitation of the iconic "Barco Zaire," a tourist attraction in the Restinga area of the city of Lobito, which is in an advanced state of disrepair, was signed this Monday, ANGOP has learned.

The initiative was undertaken by the Lobito Municipal Administration, the Port of Lobito, the Benguela Railway, the Aparthotel Aurora, and the company WHED – specializing in civil construction, inspection, and consulting.

Its shared budget is 176 million, 285 thousand, and 570 kwanzas, of which AML assumes 50 percent, while Porto and CFB each hold 25 percent.
The project, which is the result of an institutional partnership between the five entities, aims to restore dignity to this iconic landmark. collective of the city of Lobito, transforming it into a renewed space with cultural, tourist and educational vocation.

It should be remembered that the Zaire was, for years, a symbol of coastal navigation and played a prominent role in key moments in the country's recent history, including the transportation of prominent MPLA activists, including former President José Eduardo dos Santos.
Speaking at the ceremony, Lobito's municipal administrator, Carlos Pacatolo, considered the contract signing a decisive step toward realizing a dream and promise made upon his appointment as mayor.

"This project aims to restore dignity to the Zaire and make it part of the celebrations of Angola's 50th anniversary of Independence.
We want anyone visiting Lobito to be sure to experience this vessel, with a new look and new purposes serving historical memory and the promotion of local tourism," he stated.
The delivery of the refurbished vessel is scheduled for November 10th, in the wake of the country's 50th anniversary of Independence, according to the administrator.

Celso Rosas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Port of Lobito, emphasized that the main objective of this rehabilitation is to preserve the vessel's heritage value, restoring its structural and functional dignity, without losing its historical identity.

"We want to create a multipurpose space, capable of hosting exhibitions, educational activities, cultural events geared towards youth, and guided tours. We intend to consolidate the Zaire as a tourist attraction and a part of the collective memory of the city of Lobito," he stated.

Along the same lines, he said it is highly dignified for the stakeholders to participate in this project, with a view to its modernization and historical appreciation.
For Celso Rosas, this is yet another "tourist and cultural delight," where visitors, especially students, will have a space to learn about Angola's recent history.
He advised users to take care of the infrastructure, considering it will be a great gift to the population on November 11th, the date of National Independence.

The Zaire boat is considered a monument in honor of former President José Eduardo dos Santos, who, on November 7th, 1961, along with other nationalists, was transported by that vessel from Luanda to exile in the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo, during the struggle against Portuguese colonialism for National Independence. TC/CRB

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