Paulo Kassoma
Encyclopedia
António Paulo Kassoma is an Angola
n politician. He was Prime Minister of Angola
September 2008 until the new constitution replaced his role with a vice president in February 2010.
, 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 in the government of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola
(MPLA). He was later Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication from 1988 to 1989, then Minister of Transport and Communications from 1989 to 1992. He was moved to the post of Minister of Territorial Administration on 9 April 1992.
Kassoma was later the Governor of Huambo Province and First Secretary of the MPLA in Huambo Province. 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 (specifically, in Chipipa) and grow maize
. According to Kassoma, this could contribute to Huambo's economic 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. 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. 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.
Kassoma's government was appointed on 1 October. There were 35 members of this government, 17 of whom were new to the government.
Under the terms of a new constitution passed by the National Assembly on 21 January 2010, the office of Prime Minister was eliminated. Kassoma was then designated as President of the National Assembly, replacing Fernando Dias dos Santos, who was appointed as Vice-President of Angola.
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n politician. He was Prime Minister of Angola
Prime Minister of Angola
The Prime Minister of Angola is a high government official in Angola, but is not the head of government.Along with the rest of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister is appointed by the President. The position was originally created when Angola achieved independence from Portugal on 11...
September 2008 until the new constitution replaced his role with a vice president in February 2010.
Biography
Kassoma was born in Rangel municipality, located in LuandaLuanda
Luanda, formerly named São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda, is the capital and largest city of Angola. Located on Angola's coast with the Atlantic Ocean, Luanda is both Angola's chief seaport and its administrative center. It has a population of at least 5 million...
, the capital. His parents, Paulo Kassoma and Laurinda Katuta, were from Bailundo
Bailundo
Bailundo is a municipality and town in Huambo Province in the central highlands of Angola.In the 1990s, Bailundo was the location of the headquarters of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi....
, a town in Huambo Province. He studied electromechanical engineering.
From 1978 to 1979, Kassoma was Deputy Minister of Defense for Weapons and Technology in the government of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola
Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola
The People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola - Labour Party is a political party that has ruled Angola since the country's independence from Portugal in 1975...
(MPLA). He was later Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication from 1988 to 1989, then Minister of Transport and Communications from 1989 to 1992. He was moved to the post of Minister of Territorial Administration on 9 April 1992.
Kassoma was later the Governor of Huambo Province and First Secretary of the MPLA in Huambo Province. On 11 February 2002, Kassoma offered white farmers in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
who lost their farms as a result of that country's land reform
Land reform in Zimbabwe
Land reform in Zimbabwe officially began in 1979 with the signing of the Lancaster House Agreement, an effort to more equitably distribute land between the historically disenfranchised blacks and the minority-whites who ruled Zimbabwe from 1890 to 1979...
the opportunity to resettle on 10,000 hectares of abandoned farmland in Huambo (specifically, in Chipipa) and grow maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
. According to Kassoma, this could contribute to Huambo's economic 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
Angolan legislative election, 2008
A legislative election was held in Angola on September 5 and September 6, 2008, as announced by President José Eduardo dos Santos on December 27, 2007. The 220 seats in the National Assembly were at stake. The 2008 election was the first election in Angola since 1992;...
, the MPLA Political Bureau chose Kassoma to succeed Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos
Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos
Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos , known as Nandó, is an Angolan politician. He was the Prime Minister of Angola from 2002 to 2008 and President of the National Assembly of Angola from 2008 to 2010...
as Prime Minister. In accordance with the Political Bureau's decision, President José Eduardo dos Santos
José Eduardo dos Santos
José Eduardo dos Santos is an Angolan politician who has been the second and current President of Angola since 1979. As President, José Eduardo dos Santos is also the commander in chief of the Angolan Armed Forces and president of the MPLA , the party that has been ruling Angola since...
appointed Kassoma as Prime Minister on 30 September 2008; in the same decree, he dismissed Kassoma from his post as Governor of Huambo Province. 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.
Kassoma's government was appointed on 1 October. There were 35 members of this government, 17 of whom were new to the government.
Under the terms of a new constitution passed by the National Assembly on 21 January 2010, the office of Prime Minister was eliminated. Kassoma was then designated as President of the National Assembly, replacing Fernando Dias dos Santos, who was appointed as Vice-President of Angola.