Speaking at a Cape Town Press Club luncheon on Thursday, Samakuva, who was voted leader of the former rebel group last year following the death of Jonas Savimbi in 2002, said the MPLA was indicating "they are not prepared to hold elections".
Unita is the main opposition party in Angola.
"We are really very worried," Samakuva said.
The civil war in Angola had ended two years ago, the country's last election had been held in 1992, and the mandate for its national assembly had expired eight years ago.
But the MPLA was "doing nothing... and trying to postpone everything".
"They talk... but in practice they show they are not prepared to hold elections.
"Those who hold power do not seem to be prepared to submit to this (democratic elections)."
Samakuva -- who turns 58 in July, and joined Unita in 1975 -- said his party was calling for elections to be held in September next year.
"We are trying to press the government to come clear on elections."
He said Unita would like to see "significant pressure from the international community" to help bring about elections.
He also criticised President Eduardo dos Santos' MPLA government for holding "too much central control of power in the presidency".
In February this year, the MPLA announced it was considering delaying elections until 2006.
It said at the time that the 27-year-long civil war had destroyed almost all state administration facilities, and these needed to be restored before a voters' list could be drawn up.
Samakuva said there were certain tasks Unita believed it was "absolutely necessary" to complete to bring about the minimum conditions needed to hold free and fair elections in Angola.
These included getting rid of the millions of landmines infesting many areas of the country; the reconstruction of roads and bridges, destroyed after decades of war; and the registration of voters.
Another "burning issue" was the reintegration of war veterans.
There were 80,000 former Unita soldiers alone who needed to go through this process.
On demining, Samakuva said estimating the number of landmines that needed clearing in Angola was very difficult.
"The fact is there are many, many mines... perhaps between five and 10 million."
Help would be needed from the international community to remove them.
He said decades of war had left deep scars. However, the country was "blessed with oil, diamonds and natural resources".
"Angola will rise again," Samakuva said - Sapa.
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
