Eduardo Mondlane

He was an African from Mozambique who became a world figure. He was the founder and first president of FRELIMO, the Mozambique Liberation Front.

He was born in 1920 in a traditional African village, in the Gaza District in southern Mozambique. He was a son of a regent ruler and he hungered for an education.

Beginning his educational career in a catechism school near his village, he moved through the primary school years in a number of different schools. He was refused entrance into a secondary School in Mozambique because he was above the required age.

He went to secondary school in the Transvaal, began university studies in South Africa but he was expelled for forming a Mozambique students Association. Mondlane went to Portugal, and finally received his University degrees in the United States, a Bachelor of Arts degree at Oberlin College, a Master of Arts degree and Ph.D. at North Western University.

He worked at the United Nations Secretariat, Trusteeship Division, and then taught at Syracuse University in New York.

He was a founder of Student liberation organisation in South Africa which was known as Nucleus of Mozambique students (NESAM). Their work was to discuss political issues and it was through NESAM that Mondlane was able to get the first cadres of who were to form the nucleus of Frelimo.

He appealed for unity of all liberation movements in Mozambique for the success of their cause. The three fighting groups were divided on tribal basis. They came together in 1962 in Dar es Salaam. In 1962, he was elected as the first President of the liberation movement, an office he held until his assassination.

Mondlane organized peasants to rebel against colonial masters. Together with Samora, they believed that the armed struggle was a people's revolution aimed at aimed transforming their society in all aspects of life.

He recruited all students going for studies abroad to serve into Frelimo before being scholarships. This meant to integrate the intellectuals with peasants in order for them not to forget their homeland after studies.

He was able recruit a large number of women into the ranks of Frelimo because he wanted to promote their status and direct involvement in the liberation of the country.

Mondlane organized war camps in various parts of the country. Many activities took place in these camps ranging from cultivation to political education.

With Mondlane's effort, Frelimo was connected to socialist countries, which provided both financial and military support. The countries included Algeria, China, Cuba, Korea, USSR and Tanzania.

He represented the Liberation organisation in international conferences and presented papers wit emphasis on the need for independence.

He was assassinated in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania on the 3rd of February, 1969 by agents of the Portuguese.

At the funeral 19 gun salute was made by Tanzanians. Condolence messages poured in like water from President Nasser, Kaunda, Sekou Toure and HO Chi Minh.

His assistant Commander Comrade Samora Machel who later became president of Mozambique replaced him.