Samora Machel

He was born in 1933 in Chilembeni on the Banks of River Limpopo in Southern Mozambique. He was from a peasant background.

After a fourth grade course in Masano Mission School, he joined Lawrenco Marcos institute for a course in nursing. In his early working life, he worked in a local hospital as a medical dresser.

He later joined Frelimo and soon became commander of the Front's army. He fled to Tanzania when the Portuguese police wanted to arrest him for his participation in anti-colonial activities.

Samora fought for the liberation of Mozambique along with other nationalists like Eduardo Mondlane. He became a central figure in organizing the Front.

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

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

Arbitrary arrests and massacres of innocent people carried out by the Portuguese aroused a national feeling among the people of Mozambique. FRELIMO therefore fought vigorously to route the Portuguese.

After the death Eduardo Mondlane, the Frelimo leader who was killed by a parcel bomb in Tanzania, the committee elected Samora as a Frelimo president in 1970.

Samora with his comrades organized administration in the liberated areas and built schools, hospitals, among others

Refugees were given assistance like salary and others sent from abroad due to the efforts of Samora Machel.

Samora asked for foreign aid and got guns, medicine, blankets and cash to help the people of Mozambique.

Samora secured diplomatic recognition from OAU.

FRELIMO carried out extensive campaign (propaganda) against the Portuguese rule. They carried out economic sabotage by blowing vital ports, mines, destroying roads, among others

Samora was married to a beautiful and highly educated lady called Graca. She became a Minister of education in Mozambique after independence. Nelson Mandela married her after Samora's death.

In 1973, however, the Portuguese were forced to grant independence after a bloody war led by Samora since 1960.

He tried to transform Mozambique into a socialist state.

He died in 1986 in a plane crash in racist South African hilly area after attending a meeting in Zaire.

Qn. Discuss the problems the people of Mozambique faced during the struggles for their independence

· Points to consider

· Portugal was the colonial master.

· The Portuguese put restrictions on the nationalists movement.

· Brutal repression

· Censorship imposed on the press

· Portuguese soldiers were well equipped and better trained for counter insurgency.

· Portuguese received a lot of aid from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Western Europe and the US.

· The church, the army and the ruling class in Portugal concerted to preserve the regime in Mozambique.

· Portuguese imperialists in Mozambique used extensive propaganda and psychological warfare to win over African peoples.

· At the initial stages FRELIMO lacked adequate man power and supplies.

· Personal ambitions within FRELIMO

· Disunity and ideological differences among the nationalists.

· Assassinations of nationalists eg Siguake in 1966 and Mondlane in 1969.

· Nationalists' were infiltrated by Portuguese African loyalists.

· Conclude.