Paulo Kassoma

Infobox Prime Minister
name = Paulo Kassoma


order = Prime Minister of Angola
president = José Eduardo dos Santos
deputy =
term_start = 30 September 2008
term_end =
predecessor = Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos
successor =
birth_date = 6 June 1951
birth_place = Luanda
spouse =
party = Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola

António Paulo Kassoma (born 6 June 1951) is an Angolan politician. He has been Prime Minister of Angola since 30 September 2008. [http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/pt_pt/noticias/politica/Empossado-novo-primeiro-ministro,9a5b0f47-1f74-4a9f-8cdb-a4e88e376174.html "Empossado novo primeiro-ministro"] , Angola Press, 30 September 2008 pt icon.]

Kassoma was born in Rangel municipality, located in Luanda, the capital. His parents, Paulo Kassoma and Laurinda Katuta, were from Bailundo, a town in Huambo Province. He studied electromechanical engineering.

From 1978 to 1979, Kassoma was Deputy Minister of Defense for Weapons and Technology. He was later Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication from 1988 to 1989, Minister of Transport and Communications from 1989 to 1992. He was moved to the post of Minister of Territorial Administration on 9 April 1992. ["Apr 1992 - Election date - Cabinet changes", Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume 38, April, 1992 Angola, Page 38851.]

Kassoma was later the Governor of Huambo Province [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gjgvwBmkFJvytMf8ezfKH4X04Bew "Angola names new PM after polls"] , AFP, September 26, 2008.] and First Secretary of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) in Huambo Province. ["Angola: Official notes improved military situation in Huambo Province", Angop news agency web site (nl.newsbank.com), 19 November 2001.] On 11 February 2002, Kassoma offered white farmers in Zimbabwe who lost their farms as a result of that country's land reform the opportunity to resettle on 10,000 hectares of abandoned farmland in Huambo [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-50163828.html "Angolan state governor offers land to Zimbabwe's white farmers"] , Associated Press (highbeam.com), 11 February 2002.] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/africa/1816436.stm "Greener pastures for Zimbabwe's farmers"] , BBC News, 12 February 2002.] (specifically, in Chipipa) and grow maize. According to Kassoma, this could contribute to Huambo's ecomomic development. At the party's Fifth Ordinary Congress in December 2003, Kassoma was elected to the MPLA Political Bureau.

On 26 September 2008, following the MPLA's victory in the September 2008 parliamentary election, the MPLA Political Bureau chose Kassoma to succeed Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos as Prime Minister. [http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/pt_pt/noticias/politica/MPLA-indica-Fernando-Piedade-para-presidente-Assembleia-Nacional,a6f5917c-3ce6-4223-9fcc-589d3872980d.html "MPLA indica Fernando da Piedade para presidente da Assembleia Nacional"] , Angola Press, 26 September 2008 pt icon.] [http://noticias.sapo.pt/lusa/artigo/72852d89808afb176ded48.html "Angola: Paulo Kassoma confirmado como primeiro-ministro do próximo governo angolano"] , Lusa, 26 September 2008 pt icon.] In accordance with the Political Bureau's decision, President José Eduardo dos Santos appointed Kassoma as Prime Minister on 30 September 2008; in the same decree, he dismissed Kassoma from his post as Governor of Huambo Province. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6508992.html "Angolan president appoints new prime minister"] , Xinhua ("People's Daily Online"), 1 October 2008.] Kassoma was sworn in by dos Santos at the Presidential Palace in Luanda on the same day. Speaking to the press afterwards, Kassoma said that he would place a priority on accelerating the process of national reconstruction. He said that he was proud of his appointment, while also expressing some sadness about leaving the people of Huambo. [ [http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/pt_pt/noticias/politica/Novo-primeiro-ministro-vai-priorizar-reconstrucao-nacional,069914c6-63c8-40bc-bf76-2f7072fbf123.html "Novo primeiro-ministro vai priorizar a reconstrução nacional"] , AngolaPress, 30 September 2008 pt icon.]

Kassoma's government was appointed on 1 October. There were 35 members of this government, 17 of whom were new to the government. [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20081001184444411C354472 "Angola's new cabinet unveiled"] , AFP ("IOL"), 1 October 2008.]

References