Background
Born on April 3, 1927, at Malange, 180 miles south-east of Luanda.
Born on April 3, 1927, at Malange, 180 miles south-east of Luanda.
Educated at the Seminary of the Catholic Mission of Bângalas, in downtown Kassanji in Malanje, completing a degree in Philosophy and theology at the Major Roman Catholic Seminary of Luanda.
After school he secured a clerical job in the finance department of the Portu administration at Luanda. In his spare time he was an active journalist, writing for “Diario de Luanda”, his hometown paper at Malange “Angola Norte”, as well as the Catholic “O Apostolado”.
His copying of secret documents went unnoticed until a Radio Brazzaville broadcast, he heard, reported disclosures at a press conference by two Americans after a visit to Angola that they received confidential memoranda. With the help of Father Joaquim Pinto de Andrade he got an exit permit, flew north to Cabinda on June 3, 1960, and then went into exile to Kinshasa. After joining UPA and setting up their Zaire office he was promoted by Roberto to vice-president in February 1962.
Following the formation of the government in exile he led a delegation in June 1962 to Ghana where the late Kwame Nkrumah cajoled MPLA and UPA to agree to a “non-political arrangement” for a unified military command—an agreement which lasted only a few weeks. In November 1962, still wearing his UPA vice-president’s hat, he went to Rome seeking Vatican pressure on Portugal. His main work since then has been to win support in the Afro-Asian world through his information service.
Quotes from others about the person
"Through the example distinguished this which was a devoted husband, an exemplary father, an amiable relative, a generous friend, a brave son of Angola, will continue its imperishable path in the hearts of true Angolans, through time and eternity" said Moses Camabaia, the deputy of the MPLA.
In his book "Heroes of downtown Kassanji" Moses Camabaia writes that "Rosário Neto triggered the largest mass movement ever seen in Malanje and igniting the uprising of social and economic demand of Kassanji workers, transforming it into a true revolution for independence through a messianic movement of gigantic proportions unprecedented in Angola. "
Son of João da Conceição Rosário and Joana Joaquim Filipe