Jeremias Chitunda

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Jeremias Kalandula Chitunda (1942-November 2, 1992) served as the Vice President of UNITA until his assassination in Luanda, on November 2, 1992, shortly after the first round of the presidential election, held on September 29-30.[1]

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[edit] Schooling

Chitunda, born in Chimbuelengue to Emilio Chitunda and Rosalina Kalombo, attended Chimbuelengue and Dondi Mission school in Bela Vista before proceeding to João de Castro College and the Haumbo National Secondary School. He later received a scholarship to attend the University of Arizona and a degree in mining engineering.[2]

[edit] Political career

Chitunda moved from Angola to Zaire, fearing arrest by the Portuguese colonial authorities. He joined UNITA in 1966 and served as its representative to the U.S. southwest before being promoted to representative to the U.S. in 1976. He became the Vice President of UNITA in August 1986 at the sixth party congress.[2]

[edit] Death

José Eduardo dos Santos officially received 49.57% of the vote and Savimbi won 40.6%. As no candidate received 50% or more of the vote, election law dictated a second round of voting between the top two contenders. Savimbi, along with many other election observers, said the election had been neither free nor fair, but he sent Jeremias Chitunda, Vice President of UNITA, to Luanda to negotiate the terms of the second round.[3][1]

The election process broke down on October 31 when government troops in Luanda attacked UNITA. Civilians, using guns they had received from police a few days earlier, conducted house-by-house raids with the Rapid Intervention Police, killing and detaining hundreds of UNITA supporters. The government took civilians in trucks to the Camama cemetery and Morro da Luz ravine, shot them, and buried them in mass graves. On November 2 assailants attacked Chitunda's convoy, pulling him out of his car and shooting him and two others in their faces.[1]

State-run television displayed the bodies of Chitunda and Elias Salupeto Pena. Their bodies have not been returned to their families for burial.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Chevron oil and the Savimbi problem, April 29, 2002. Insight on the News.
  2. ^ a b c James, W. Martin. Historical Dictionary of Angola, 2004. Page 33.
  3. ^ ^ Rothchild, Donald S. Managing Ethnic Conflict in Africa: Pressures and Incentives for Cooperation, 1997. Page 134.
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