Brussels – The Angolan ambassador to Belgium, Maria Elizabeth Simbrão, stressed the Government's commitment to the development of a rational urbanisation, adapted to the current realities of Luanda city.
 

The diplomat said so at a conference sponsored by Beyond Entropy: When Energy Becomes Space" in the European Parliament in Brussels.

 
According to her, Luanda offers an example of extremely complex and particular phenomenon of expansion of cities and of its consequences - the organisation of internal space and external relations -  in addition to the relevant modifications over the years, mainly since the early years of the national independence.

During her address on urban and architectural territorial space, in view of the relationship between urban development and the problems raised by the growth of large cities, the ambassador said that Luanda has a population of at least 7 million inhabitants.

According to estimates, Luanda could reach 16 million by 2030, of which 80 percent ive in slums.

According to Maria Elizabeth Simbrão, the process of urban growth went in a rapid and disorderly way, as the accumulation of the problems of urban organisation all along neglected the capacity to apply measures to equip Luanda with a plan at the heights of its current realities and future needs, with enough malleability for the adoption of certain transitional situations.

Thus, she added, the Angolan Government has committed not only to develop a rational urbanisation, adapted to the current realities of the city, but combining at the same time the requirements of environmental management coupled with promotion of housing policies, which is evident in the ongoing works, she stressed.

As an example, the diplomat mentioned the districts of Cazenga and Sambizanga, in Luanda, that are benefiting from upgrading works since November 2010, taking into account the social reality.