By ARNALDO VIEIRA

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The Canada embassy in South Africa has denied visa to Angolan human rights activist Rafael Marques de Morais to visit his wife and son in the North American country.

Canadian publication, The Globe & Mail, quoted the country’s Immigration Federal Department spokesperson, Ms Beatrice Fenelon, as justifying the denial on grounds that Mr Morais would want to illegally live in Canada.

Mr Morais confirmed the denial saying he respects the Canada government's decision, but believes that it was informed by the fact that he is poor.

“Basically, they denied me visa because I am poor. They alleged I have no properties in Canada,” he told VOA Radio.

International awards

Mr Morais, 47, is a winner of the Washington-based National Endowment for Democracy Democracy Award 2017.

The Angolan rights activist has also received several international awards for his reporting on conflict diamonds and government corruption.

He started work as a journalist in 1992 at the state-owned newspaper Jornal de Angola.

His trial for libel and slander of former attorney-general João Maria de Sousa was last week adjourned for the second time.

The first postponement was on April 16 when Mr Sousa failed to show up for the hearing.

Drop all charges

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a statement a fortnight ago that it was concerned about the trial.

The New York-based lobby also condemned the continued trial of Mr Morais and Mr Mariano Bras Lourenco behind closed doors instead of in open court.

Mr Morais runs the anti-corruption website Maka Angola, while Mr Lourenco works for the weekly newspaper O Crime.

Last year, CPJ called on Angolan authorities to immediately drop all charges against the two.