Sinclética Torres
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Sinclética Torres | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 24 June 1928 |
| Died | 10 November 2009 (aged 81) Luanda |
| Other names | Sinclética Soares dos Santos Torres |
| Occupations | Pharmacist and politician |
| Known for | First black woman in the Portuguese parliament |
Sinclética Torres (1928 – 2009) was a pharmacist who, between 1965 and 1974, was the first black woman to serve in the Portuguese parliament, during the Estado Novo regime.
Sinclética Soares dos Santos Torres was born in Luanda, Angola on 24 June 1928 at a time when Angola was a Portuguese colony. As Angola was then considered a province of Portugal, she was considered a Portuguese national. She graduated in pharmacy from the University of Porto and then returned to Angola, where she became director of various pharmacies in Moçâmedes in the Namibe Province in southwestern Angola, including in the city's hospital, as well as inspector of pharmacies in the Moçâmedes district. However, the pharmacies were always in short supply. One day she complained to a local politician about the situation and he recommended that she speak to Angola's governor. The latter decided to invite her to join the Angolan legislative council, which she did, in 1962.[1][2][3]
