Shelling of cities resume

The UNITA rebel movement have resumed shelling of government-held cities, media reports said on Thursday. According to the Catholic radio station ‘Eclesia’, the city of Malanje where an estimated 150,000 displaced people are crammed has come under sporadic long-range shelling. The city’s Roman Catholic bishop, Luis Maria, appealed on ‘Eclesia’ for the government and rebels to seek a peaceful settlement to the conflict. An estimated US $50 million needed to restore water projects Dario Daniel Catata, vice-minister of agriculture and rural development said on Thursday that an estimated US $50 million was needed to restore agricultural dam and irrigation canal networks. Catata was quoted as saying: “Rehabilitation of these projects will enable practising intensive agriculture all year round.” Catata said initial rehabilitation would take place in those areas that enjoyed “a certain military stability.” According to the minister these areas included the provinces of Bengo, Huila, Benguela, Cuanza Norte and Cuanza Sul.