It is also not to be overlooked that the bet on economic growth must be closely linked to the social development pillars mentioned above. There are no strong societies with mediocre economies. It is the capacity of each country to generate wealth that allows higher levels of investment in each of these elementary sources of social wealth, which in turn, allows for similar dimensions for the growth of the economy itself.
Today's world, in contrast to what we knew a few months ago, came to show the fragility that all these concepts can generate when we are forced to choose - or value - the dimensions that health, safety and economy should have.
The pandemic regarding the novel coronavirus COVID-19, leaves for now - and we know very little about the nature and impact it may have on humanity - an absolute certainty: Malaria, HIV, cancers (in general) among other diseases that are proven to be more deadly, are manifestly less worrying than the famous new virus.
This is mainly explained by two reasons:
• The impact on the most developed economies worldwide.
• The resulting changes in the spectrum of planetary political domination.
See the binomial social confinement vs economic confinement. Different countries have acted differently in their approach to fight the novel coronavirus COVD-19. If on one hand England, Sweden - and why not the USA and Brazil - with much less restrictive measures in terms of the movement of people, and consequently, in economic activity, on the other hand countries such as Spain, Italy and France who assumed from a very early stage that fighting the virus was a priority over the economy.
It is in this context that we must think about what measures and what action should Angola take in this fight against the novel coronavirus COVID-19.
The Angolan economy, as we all know, heavily dependent on the oil and diamond sector, does not show the capacity to guarantee the daily subsistence of millions of people who survive from the informal economy. The State and its government officials are not able to meet the need for confinement when the vast majority of Angolan families need mobility - with small businesses and some services - to guarantee their "livelihood".
On the other hand, in view of the deficit in sanitary conditions and access to basic health care, can, in the first instance, leave human life quite fragile in this pandemic context.
Hunger may be the most assertive word to address in this discussion.
As John Wooden, a renowned American basketball coach, would say:
"Ability is the poor man's wealth."
The truth and in conclusion, is that we expect very difficult times that deserve from all of us thorough reflections, absolute care and awareness, a lot of skills and positive thinking, and willingness to act and find solutions to build a better future for all of us.
