Samora Machel

Samora Machel

human

Ein sex anaa gender	male
Ein country of citizenship	Portugal, Mozambique
Name in native language	Samora Moisés Machel
Name wey dem give am	Samora
Ein date of birth	29 September 1933
Place dem born am	Gaza Province
Date wey edie	19 October 1986
Place wey edie	Mbuzini
Manner of death	accidental death
Cause of death	aviation accident
Spouse	Graça Machel, Josina Machel
Kiddie	Josina Z. Machel
Languages edey speak, rep anaa sign	Portuguese
Ein occupation	politician
Position ehold	President of Mozambique
Educate for	Waterford Kamhlaba
Political party ein member	FRELIMO
Ethnic group	Black people
Religion anaa worldview	atheism

Samora Moisés Machel (29 September 1933 – 19 October 1986) be Mozambican politician den revolutionary. E be socialist wey follow Marxism–Leninism ideology, den e serve as de first President of Mozambique from de time wey de country gain independence for 1975 till ein death for 1986 inside plane crash.

Early life

Dem born Machel insyd one village wey dem dey call Madragoa (wey now dem dey call am Chilembene) insyd Gaza Province, Mozambique, to one farmer family. Ein grandpoppie bin dey help Gungunhana for ein struggle. Under Portuguese rule, ein poppie, like how e be for most Black Mozambicans, dem classify am as "indígena" (native). Dem force am make e dey sell ein crops for cheaper price pass white farmers; dem compel am make e grow cotton wey hard to work but no dey bring better food give ein family; plus dem no gree make e put ein brand for ein cattle so people no go fit thief dem. But still, Machel ein poppie be successful farmer: by 1940, e get four plows plus 400 cattle. Machel grow for dis farming village wey e dey attend mission elementary school. Insyd 1942, dem send am go school for Zonguene town insyd Gaza Province. Catholic missionaries run de school wey dey teach children Portuguese language plus culture. Even though e finish fourth grade, Machel no complete secondary school. But e get de certificate wey fit make am train as nurse for any part of Portugal dat time, since nursing schools no dey give degree.

Machel start ein nursing studies for de capital city wey dem dey call Lourenço Marques (wey now be Maputo) for 1954. For de 1950s, e see say some of de fertile land dem around ein farming area for Limpopo river, de provincial government come carry dem give White settlers. Dem come develop many new infrastructure for dat area. Like plenty Mozambicans wey dey live near southern border of Mozambique, some of ein family people go work for de mines for South Africa wey job opportunities dey. No long after, one of ein brothers die for mining accident. As e no fit finish ein formal training for Miguel Bombarda Hospital for Lourenço Marques, e come get work as aide for dat same hospital. From dat work, e manage get small money to continue ein education for night school. E work for de hospital until e comot de country go join de Mozambican nationalist struggle for de neighbouring Tanzania.

Independence struggle

Machel take interest insyd anti-colonial ideas, den e start ein political activities insyd Miguel Bombarda hospital insyd Lourenço Marques, where e protest say dem dey pay black nurses less money than white people wey dey do de same work. E decide say e go leave Lourenço Marques (Maputo) after one white anti-fascist man, wey be pharmaceutical rep, ein name João Ferreira, warn am say de Portuguese political police, PIDE, dey watch am. Machel come quietly cross border, then e find ein way go join FRELIMO for Dar es Salaam through Swaziland, South Africa den Botswana. Insyd Botswana, e get chance enter plane wey dey carry recruits from de African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa go Tanzania. One senior ANC official wey ein name be J.B. Marks (as Joe Slovo talk am), see say de young Mozambican impress dem, so e remove one ANC recruit from de flight make space for Machel.

Insyd Dar es Salaam, Machel volunteer make e join military service, den dem select am as part of de second group of FRELIMO guerrilla fighters wey dem send go Algeria for training. Wen e come back to Tanzania, dem put am in charge of FRELIMO ein own training camp for Kongwa. After FRELIMO start de independence war on 25 September 1964, Machel quick become key commander, especially for de hard battlefield conditions wey dey eastern side of de big and low-populated Niassa Province. E climb rank fast insyd de guerrilla army wey be FPLM, den after de first commander, Filipe Samuel Magaia, die for October 1966, Machel become de head of de army.

Frelimo ein founder plus first president, Eduardo Mondlane, dem assassinate am through parcel bomb on 3 February 1969. Ein deputy, Rev Uria Simango, bin expect say e go take over – but instead, de FRELIMO Executive Committee appoint one presidential three-man group, wey include Simango, Machel, plus veteran nationalist and poet Marcelino dos Santos. Simango later come break away, den e condemn de rest of de FRELIMO leaders inside pamphlet wey e call “Gloomy Situation in Frelimo”. Dis action make dem expel Simango from de liberation front, plus dem elect Machel as FRELIMO President for 1970, with dos Santos as Deputy President.

Like how late Mondlane be, Machel identify ein self plus Marxism–Leninism, den under ein leadership, dis kind ideology turn de main foundation for FRELIMO, wey later change from broad front go become proper Marxist party.

De new commander for Portuguese army insyd Mozambique, Gen. Kaúlza de Arriaga, talk say e go wipe FRELIMO commot finish inside some few months. So e launch de biggest attack for all Portugal dem colonial wars, wey dem call Operation Gordian Knot, for 1970, wey dem base am for where dem dey believe say e be FRELIMO ein stronghold — Cabo Delgado for de far north. Kaúlza de Arriaga boast say e destroy plenty guerrilla base — but since de base be just hut them put together, de military value of dem kind victory no get weight. Machel respond by moving de war go different side, wey make FRELIMO increase dem actions for Tete Province for west side. Na there dem dey build one big dam, Cahora Bassa, for top de Zambezi, to take sell electricity go South Africa. As Portuguese fear say FRELIMO go bomb de dam site, dem arrange three rings of soldiers around Cahora Bassa. Dis arrangement make dem remove almost all troops from de rest of Tete Province, so by 1972 FRELIMO fit cross de Zambezi, den attack reach far for south. By 1973, FRELIMO troops dey operate for Manica plus Sofala Province, den dem start to attack de railway wey dey move from Rhodesia go Beira, wey cause panic insyd de settler people for Beira. Dem accuse de Portuguese army say dem no dey do enough to protect white people demma interest.

De end come quick. On 25 April 1974, Portuguese soldiers, wey taya for fighting three war dem no fit win for Africa, overthrow de government for Lisbon. De coup almost no get any bloodshed. Nobody come out for street to defend Prime Minister Marcelo Caetano. Within 24 hours, de Armed Forces Movement (MFA) take full control of Portugal.

Independence

FRELIMO ein first warning be say no dey anything like democratic colonialism, den nobody for think say Mozambican people go accept Portuguese rule just because government change happen for Lisbon. FRELIMO ein fear no be for nothing. De MFA make General António de Spínola become de first president after de coup. Dis same Spínola be de commander for Portuguese army wey fight for Guinea-Bissau, wey dem dey call Portuguese Guinea dat time, den people believe say e get strong hand for how dem kill de Guinean nationalist leader, Amílcar Cabral.

Spínola no get mind to free Mozambique or Angola. E dey dream of one Lusophone commonwealth wey dem go manage from Lisbon, den e want make dem do referendum about independence. Machel throw away dem kind plan sharp with one strong talk: "You no dey ask slave if e wan free, especially when e already dey revolt, and more especially if na you be de slave master."

De first meeting between FRELIMO plus de new Portuguese government wey happen for Lusaka insyd June 1974 no bring anything good. Machel see say de Portuguese foreign minister, Mário Soares, wey be Socialist Party leader, no get real power to talk about independence matter. So Machel send one of ein top adviser, Aquino de Bragança, go Lisbon to check who really dey hold power for Portugal. De answer wey e bring come be say make FRELIMO talk straight to de MFA, especially military minds like Colonel Ernesto Melo Antunes, wey ein power dey grow as Spínola ein own dey fade.

Machel no gree give de Portuguese de ceasefire dem dey beg for. So far as dem no promise Mozambican independence, de war go still dey go on. FRELIMO open ein front back for Zambezia Province den increase dem operations for all de war area. Resistance no too dey. After Caetano ein government collapse, ordinary Portuguese soldiers no see sense again for de fight, so most of dem just remain for inside dem barracks. Dis time around, more serious talks happen between de Lisbon government plus FRELIMO, den e be de MFA wey control tins. De outcome be agreement wey dem sign for Lusaka on 7 September 1974, wey talk say dem go give full power to FRELIMO, den independence go happen on 25 June 1975. On dat same day, some settlers try rebel against de agreement, but within one day Portuguese troops and FRELIMO forces join hand take stop am.

Dem put one transitional government insyd, wey get ministers from both FRELIMO and Portugal, but de head be FRELIMO ein Joaquim Chissano as Prime Minister. Machel still dey run FRELIMO from Tanzania. Later e come back triumphantly to ein homeland, travel from Rovuma to Maputo — de rivers wey mark de northern and southern ends of de country — den address crowds for every big town wey e pass through.

Dem interrupt de journey for Tofo beach resort, wey dey Inhambane Province, make FRELIMO Central Committee fit hold meeting. For de meeting top, dem write Mozambique ein first Constitution. Dis Constitution show how de one-party socialist state wey FRELIMO want set up go look like. E put FRELIMO as de main force for Mozambican society, den e talk say anybody wey be President of FRELIMO go automatically be President of Mozambique. On 25 June 1975, Machel announce "de total plus complete independence of Mozambique and ein constitution insyd de People's Republic of Mozambique". E talk say de new state go be "one People's Democracy state, wey under worker-peasant alliance ein leadership, all patriotic groups go join hand fight de remaining parts of colonialism plus wipe away de system wey man dey exploit ein fellow man".

Machel ein government move fast take put key sectors under state control. Dem nationalize all land – so no person or institution fit hold land, dem go only lease am from de state. Just one month after independence, on 24 July 1975, dem nationalize all health den education institutions. Dem set up national health plus education services, den close down all private clinics den schools. De Catholic Church wey before get special status for these sectors lose am immediately. Then on 3 February 1976, de government nationalize all rented housing. For de rally wey dem take announce dis move, Machel ask: “Landlords? Wetin we need landlords for insyd our country?” Dem no ban private house ownership, but dem talk say anybody – whether Mozambican or foreigner – fit own house for ein own use, but nobody fit build house for rent purpose. Dis policy change how Mozambican cities take look – black Mozambicans move from suburbs come stay for flats plus houses wey dey de centre of de towns, wey before be Portuguese landlords ein property, many of which dem abandon.

For February 1977, during ein 3rd Congress, FRELIMO declare say e now be Marxist–Leninist party wey dey focus on building socialism, based on de “worker-peasant alliance”. De Congress re-elect Machel again as President of FRELIMO, wey mean say automatically e still be President of de Republic.

Dem reorganize FRELIMO into celulas (wey mean branches) across de whole country. De party take position as Leninist vanguard, so all government institutions, no matter de level, suppose dey under de control of de party. By 1978, dem hold elections. But since dis be one-party state, no opposition party dey. Instead, na FRELIMO dey present candidates for public meetings – and sometimes people reject dem if dem get bad record like beating wife, too much drink, or say dem work as informant for PIDE during de colonial time.

FRELIMO face tough condition from outside too, as dem get white minority governments of Ian Smith ein Rhodesia den apartheid South Africa for demma borders. For March 1976, Machel ein government enforce de United Nations sanctions against de Smith regime, den close de border with Rhodesia. As reply, Rhodesia ein Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) gather some Mozambicans wey no dey happy plus former Portuguese settlers, den help form anti-FRELIMO group. At first, dis group wey dem call Mozambique National Resistance dey work like small branch of de Rhodesian army. FRELIMO just call dem “armed bandits”.

As part of de measures wey follow de new FRELIMO government, Machel introduce “reeducation centers” wey dem take hold petty criminals, political opponents, plus people dem say be anti-social like prostitutes and drug users – many times dem put dem there without court trial. Life insyd dis centers hard. Even though figures no dey clear, Benedito Machava estimate say over one thousand inmates fit die from hunger, sickness, punishment or execution. When Machava talk about Machel ein role, e talk say de president take one “salvationist stance” – wey dey influenced by both Christianity den Maoism – wey make am believe say reeducation go help force ein dream of social and moral purity. Even though plenty abuses and hard condition dey, dem still get focus on rehabilitation. For instance, between 1979 and 1980, dem close down three reeducation centers, wey lead to 2600 former inmates (including hundreds of political offenders) returning back into society. For one speech Machel give for October 1981, e even talk against de long detentions without reason, and criticize am.

But Machel no dey sorry for how dem treat dissidents, whether inside or outside FRELIMO. For 1975, e show up publicly for Nachingwea military camp for one long show trial of some old FRELIMO members like Paulo Gumane and Uria Simango, wey oppose de way de party dey gather power. Under pressure, de people confess to many serious crimes. E dey believed say dem kill dem some years later. One 1995 report by Jose Pinto de Sa and Nelson Saute talk say soldiers burn dem alive for 1977.

Rhodesian Bush War

Frelimo get long-time connection plus Zimbabwean nationalist movements. Even during de independence war, guerrilla fighters from ZANLA (Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army), wey be de armed wing of ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union), dey operate from places wey Frelimo control for Tete province go enter northern part of Rhodesia. After dem implement de UN sanctions against de Rhodesian government, de whole stretch of de border come open for nationalist fighters to enter Rhodesia.

ZANU ein leader Robert Mugabe, after dem release am from Salisbury Prison, Rhodesia for 1974, enter Mozambique de following year. At first, Machel no trust de coup wey carry Mugabe come power inside ZANU, so dem make am stay quietly for de central city of Quelimane, where e dey teach English. Because Machel vex for de division inside Zimbabwean nationalism, e support one new group wey no be ZANU or demma rival ZAPU. Dis group be de Zimbabwean People's Army (ZIPA), wey take credit for plenty operations inside eastern Zimbabwe, den de Mozambican media praise dem well. But later e clear say de people wey get real power insyd ZIPA be ZANLA guerrillas wey never stop dey loyal to ZANU and to Mugabe.

Machel accept say na ZANLA people really dey do most of de fighting for Zimbabwe. To fit end de war well, Machel take two-way strategy—military plus diplomatic. E send Mozambican soldiers go Zimbabwe make dem fight side by side plus ZANU guerrillas, den e too insist say de new British Conservative government under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for take up dem responsibility again as de colonial power.

UK Government host one conference for Lancaster House insyd London wey dem want take end White minority rule plus write constitution for independent Zimbabwe. Mozambican people, especially Machel ein British-trained advisor Fernando Honwana, dey London to advise de ZANU delegation—den dem make sure say Mugabe agree de Lancaster House Agreement, even though e no solve de land matter, as small group of white commercial farmers still dey hold most of de fertile land for de country. Machel, wey ein own intelligence people dey ground, sure say ZANU go win any fair election. Truly, ZANU win 57 out of de 80 seats wey dem keep for Black Zimbabweans, while de second nationalist group, ZAPU, win 20. Ian Smith ein Rhodesian Front take de 20 seats wey Mugabe no want but later gree make dem give Whites.

Machel know well-well say dangerous ethnic divisions dey insyd Zimbabwe, as ZANU get most of ein support from de Shona majority, den ZAPU from de Ndebele minority. So when e go Zimbabwe for ein first state visit for 1980, Machel talk warning say: "To make sure say national unity go dey, make e no dey Shonas for Zimbabwe, make e no dey Ndebeles for Zimbabwe, make e only dey Zimbabweans. Some people dey proud of demma tribalism. But we dey call tribalists reactionary agents of de enemy."

Civil War

Insyd 1977, one rebel army wey dem dey call RENAMO start rebellion wey Rhodesia support, wey carry de country go inside civil war. After Smith ein government collapse, de rebel force come dey receive support from South Africa. De group first dey known as RNM (wey for English be MNR), but from 2003, dem start dey use de name Renamo.

During de 1980s, de South African government start dey show more hostile attitude towards de Front Line States. Mozambique in particular dem accuse am say e dey give chance to African National Congress (ANC) make dem dey use de country for military bases. For June 30, 1981, South African commandos attack three houses for de southern city of Matola, wey dem kill 12 ANC members plus one Portuguese electrician. Even though de people wey dem kill be members of ANC ein armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK - Spear of de Nation), de houses no be guerrilla base, as diplomats plus journalists wey visit de place confirm am. Two weeks after de attack, Machel show strong resistance. For one rally wey happen for Maputo ein independence square, e hug ANC leader Oliver Tambo and talk say: "Dem wan come here come do murder. So we dey talk: Make dem come! Make all de racists come!... Make de South Africans come, but make dem understand say de war go end for Pretoria!"

As Renamo dey receive weapons wey South African Defence Force (SADF) drop for air, dem spread demma attacks all over de country, except de far north. Frelimo respond with some authoritarian policies, wey shock plenti of demma supporters for insyd and outside Mozambique. De death penalty, wey already dey for serious security offences, come extend to economic crimes. Plus dat one, corporal punishment come become penalty for some offences. Even though dis laws no last more than one year before dem stop to use am, dem spoil Frelimo ein image well-well. E dey widely believed say around dis same time, some former Frelimo officials wey dem call “traitors” get executed, including Simango and ein wife Celina. Up till today, Frelimo never publish anything about how de execution happen, but for Mozambican parliament inside 1995, de former security minister Sergio Vieira publicly confirm say “de traitors were executed”. Some Renamo supporters talk say de execution happen for 1977, but 1983 be de date wey make more sense. No matter de year, dis act break de promise wey Machel give Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere plus Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda for 1975.

Insyd April 1983, during Frelimo ein Fourth Congress, de party confirm again say dem still dey committed to Marxism, but dem accept say dem make some economic mistakes, especially for agriculture. Machel win re-election as President of Frelimo, den e still show warm friendship as e hug Oliver Tambo again.

But as de military den economic condition keep spoil, Frelimo gree to give de apartheid government wetin dem say dem want – a non-aggression pact. For March 16, 1984, for one railway carriage wey dey de no-man's land between South Africa den Mozambique, Machel plus South African President P. W. Botha sign de Nkomati Accord on Non-Aggression and Good Neighbourliness. De agreement simple – South Africa go stop to support Renamo, and Mozambique go stop to support ANC.

Machel no fully respect de agreement wey e make to chase ANC members from Mozambique ein territory. South Africa no stop dema support for Renamo – just before de Accord, dem airlift plenty arms go give Renamo, den South Africa ein Deputy Foreign Minister, Louis Nel, even go visit Renamo base for Casa Banana inside Gorongosa district, through airstrip wey South Africa help Renamo build. Insyd mid-1985, Mozambican plus Zimbabwean armies join force to fight Renamo for Gorongosa. E be Zimbabwean paratroopers wey capture Casa Banana, but Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama run go north, den establish new Renamo HQ for Maringué district. As Machel visit Casa Banana on September 5, e talk say: "We have broken the back of the snake, but the tail will still thrash around."

But de war no stop. E just move go north – go Zambezia plus Tete provinces – wey Renamo dey move freely from Malawi. Machel no like Malawi ein "life President" Hastings Kamuzu Banda, wey be de only African president wey get diplomatic relationship plus South Africa. After dem two meet but no reach agreement, Machel vex come threaten say e go put missiles for de border between Mozambique den Malawi, plus block Malawi ein trade from passing through Mozambican territory.

Fatal aircrash den investigations

On 19 October 1986, Machel go summit for Mbala insyd Zambia, wey dem organize to put pressure on Zaire ein dictator Mobutu Sese Seko sake of de support wey e dey give Angolan opposition group UNITA. De Front Line States demma plan be to fight Mobutu plus Banda, make dem stop to support UNITA den Renamo, wey dem see as South Africa ein puppets. Even though de Zambian government talk make Machel stay Mbala for de night, he talk say he go return Maputo because he get meeting early de next morning to reshuffle de armed forces ein top leaders. So he ignore de Security Ministry ein warning say president no for travel night time – but dis decision turn out fatal. De plane no reach Maputo. That same night, e crash for hillside for Mbuzini, just inside South Africa. Machel plus 33 other people die. Nine people wey sit for de back of de plane survive.

De Margo Commission, wey South African government set up but include top international members, investigate de accident and dem talk say pilot error na cause am. Even though de International Civil Aviation Organization accept de commission ein findings, both de Mozambican den Soviet governments reject am. De Soviet side submit one minority report wey suggest say de aircraft na dem intentionally divert am go wrong direction through fake radio navigation beacon wey South Africans set up purposely. Because of dis, talk about de accident still dey go on up till now, especially for Mozambique.

One Civil Cooperation Bureau operative, Hans Louw, talk say he help make Machel ein death happen. South African foreign affairs minister by dat time, Pik Botha—wey later join de ANC—talk say dem for open de investigation into de crash again.

One Portuguese journalist, José Milhazes, wey live Moscow from 1977 to 2015, and now dey work for Portuguese newspaper Público plus SIC TV, believe say de plane crash no get anything to do plus attack or mechanical failure. E say de crash come from multiple errors by de Russian crew (including de pilot), wey no focus on demma duties but dey waste time share alcohol plus soft drinks wey dem carry from Zambia, things wey Mozambique no get. According to Milhazes, both Soviet and Mozambican authorities push de idea say South Africa cause de crash—Soviets do so to protect demma image, and Mozambicans do am to turn Machel into hero.

Insyd 2007, Jacinto Veloso, one of Machel ein strong loyal supporters inside Frelimo, talk for ein memoirs say Machel ein death come from one conspiracy between South African den Soviet secret services, since both of dem get reason to clear am comot. Veloso talk say one time, de Soviet ambassador go meet Machel for audience sake of USSR ein worry say Mozambique dey “slide” go de West side. Machel then reply am “Vai à merda!” (Go to hell!). After dat, he tell de interpreter make he translate am, then he commot for de room. As de Soviets believe say Machel no dey demma side again, dem allegedly no waste time to sacrifice both de pilot plus de whole crew of demma own plane.

People who died in the crash alongside President Samora Machel

Name	Function
Luís Maria de Alcântara Santos	Minister of Transport & Communication
José Carlos Lobo	Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
Fernando Honwana	Special Assistant to the President
Alberto Cangela de Mendonça	Head of the National Protocol
Cox. C. Sikumba	Ambassador of the Republic of Zambia
Tokwalu Batale	Ambassador of the Republic of Zaire
Aquino de Bragança	Director of the Center for African Studies, University Eduardo Mondlane
João Tomás Navesse	Deputy Director of the Directorate of Legal & Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Muradali Mamadhusen	Private Secretary to President
Ivete Amós	Secretary of the President
Osvaldo de Sousa	English interpreter of the President
Bernardino Chiche	French interpreter of the President
Gulamo Khan	Press Attaché
Daniel Maquinasse	President's private photographer
Azarias Inguane	Photographer of Jornal Notícias
Henriques Bettencourt	Doctor of President
Ulisses La Rosa Mesa	Personal Doctor of President
Capitão Parente Manjate	member of staff of the Presidency
Nacir Charamadame	member of staff of the Presidency
Adão Gore Nhoca	member of staff of the Presidency
Eduardo Viegas	member of staff of the Presidency
Albino Falteira	member of staff of the Presidency
José Quivanane	member of staff of the Presidency
Alberto Chaúque	member of staff of the Presidency
Orlando Garrine	Flight attendant
Esmeralda Luísa	Flight attendant
Sofia Arone	Flight attendant
Ilda Carão	Flight attendant
Iuri Novdran	Aircraft Commander
Igor Kartmychev	Flight Engineer
Amatoli Choulipov	Flight Engineer
Fernando Nhanquila	Flight Engineer

Funeral den burial

Dem hold Machel ein state funeral for Maputo on 28 October 1986. Plenty political leaders plus other important people from Africa den different places come attend. Among dem be Dr. Robert Mugabe from Zimbabwe, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda from Zambia, Dr. Julius Nyerere from Tanzania, King Moshoeshoe II from Lesotho, Dr. Daniel arap Moi from Kenya, plus Dr. Yasser Arafat from Palestinian State. ANC leader Oliver Tambo too dey de funeral, as well as Maureen Reagan, wey be U.S. President ein daughter, Heidar Aliyev, wey be de First Deputy Prime Minister from Soviet Union, plus civil rights leader Jesse Jackson.

At de funeral, de acting Frelimo leader, Marcelino dos Santos, talk for ein speech say: "De shock of your journey wey no get return still dey shake de whole nation ein body. You fall for de struggle against apartheid… You understand say apartheid be wahala for all humanity."

Dem bury Samora Machel inside one star-shaped crypt for Mozambican Heroes' Square, wey be traffic junction insyd Maputo.

Marriages den family life

Insyd late 1950s, wey Machel dey work as nurse insyd Inhaca Island, he meet one local girl, Sorita Tchaiakomo, den dem start life together. Demma first pikin, Joscelina, born for Inhaca for 1958. Idelson (1959) den Olívia (1961) born afta de family move come back main land, wey dem come live for Mafalala, one suburb for Lourenço Marques. Machel go back to Miguel Bombarda Hospital den dem take am for one extra training course. For de hospital insyd, he start relation plus anoda nurse, Irene Buque. She born demma daughter, Ornila, for February 1963, three weeks before Machel comot Mozambique go join Frelimo. N’tewane, wey be Tchaiakomo ein fourth pikin plus Machel, born dat same September, six months after Machel lef de country. Later, Machel talk say he dey sorry for how he behave towards Sorita den Irene, wey he come see as bad behaviour.

Machel no marry Tchaiakomo or Buque. When he join Frelimo for 1963, many pipol believe say de war for independence go last for plenty years, or even decades, den say chance for Frelimo members to meet demma families for Mozambique be very small. Josina Abiatar Muthemba, wey dey active inside anti-colonial student group NESAM, arrive Tanzania for 1965, on top ein second try to escape from Mozambique. For Tanzania, she first work as assistant to Janet Mondlane, wey be Eduardo Mondlane ein wife den director of de Mozambique Institute. She join de Women’s Detachment of de guerrilla army early, den campaign strong make dem include women fully for all parts of de liberation struggle. She den Machel marry for Tunduru, south Tanzania, for May 1969. For November, dem born demma only son, Samora, wey dem dey call Samito. Josina go back work as head of Social Affairs, wey she dey in charge of war orphans ein welfare, den health plus education for all children wey dey inside war zones for northern Mozambique. But she start feel very sick. For 1970 she go Soviet Union make she get diagnosis for ein sickness, but dem no fit help. E be like say she get leukaemia, though pancreatic cancer fit be de cause too. She die on April 7, 1971, wey she be just twenty-five years. Machel vex plenty for heart.

Machel ein second wife, Graça Simbine, join Frelimo for 1973 after she finish modern languages degree for Lisbon University. She start work as teacher, first for Frelimo-controlled areas for Cabo Delgado province, den later for de Frelimo school for Tanzania. She become Minister for Education and Culture for de new independent Mozambique. She den Machel marry three months after Independence, for September 1975. For April 1976, dem born daughter Josina, den for December 1978, son Malengane. When Mozambique get independence, Machel ein five older children join Josina Machel ein son Samito for de Presidential house. For 1998, twelve years after Samora Machel die, Graça Machel marry Nelson Mandela, wey be President of South Africa, so she become de only woman wey ever be First Lady for two countries.

International relationships

Samora Machel build strong relationship plus Italy, sake of say Italy dey interested insyd de fight against apartheid den Portuguese colonialism. Especially, de city of Reggio Emilia organise plenty activities to make Italian pipol focus insyd de big political problems wey southern Africa dey face. On 24 den 25 March 1973, Machel join de first "National Conference of solidarity against colonialism and imperialism for freedom den independence of Mozambique, Angola den Guinea Bissau". When Reggio Emilia send de first solidarity ship wey dem call "Amanda", Machel welcome am insyd de port of Maputo. He talk say: "Solidarity no be charity act. E be cooperation, mutual support between peoples wey dey struggle to reach de same goal. Dis ship dey bring peace, e dey bring de solidarity of all Italian pipol for every population." He come visit Reggio Emilia again insyd 1981.

Foreign honours

• Cuba
  • Recipient of de Order of José Martí
  • Recipient of de Order of Playa Girón
• Italy
  • Knight Grand Cross with Collar of de Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
• North Korea
  • Order of de National Flag, First Class
• Portugal
  • Grand Collar of de Order of Prince Henry
• Soviet Union
  • Lenin Peace Prize
  • Recipient of de Order of Friendship of Peoples
• Tanzania
  • Order of de Uhuru Torch of Mount Kilimanjaro, First Class
• East Timor
  • Great-collar of de Order of Timor-Leste
• Yugoslavia
  • Order of de Yugoslav Great Star

Legacy

Eponyms

• Samora Machel Air Force Base in Mbala, Northern Zambia.
• Samora Machel Avenue, in the Dar es Salaam central business district in Tanzania (about 1.75 km)
• Samora Machel Stadium, in Iringa, Tanzania
• Samora Machel Secondary School, in Mbeya, Tanzania
• Samora Machel Avenue, in Gaborone, Botswana
• Samora Machel Avenue, in Harare, Zimbabwe
• Samora Machel Avenue, in Luanda, Angola
• Samora Machel Bridge, (formerly Tete Bridge) across the Zambezi River in Tete, Mozambique (762 metres)
• Samora Machel constituency, (formerly Wanaheda constituency in 2003) in Khomas Region, Namibia
• Samora Machel House, residence for female students at the University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus
• Samora Machel School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia
• Samora Machel Street, in Moscow, Russian Federation
• Samora Machel Street, in Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria
• Samora Machel Street, in Utrecht, Netherlands
• Samora Machel Road, in Accra, Ghana
• Samora Machel Park, in Reggio Emilia, Italy
• Samora Machel Avenue, Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit), South Africa
• Samora Machel Street (Formerly Aliwal Street) in Durban, South Africa

Memorial

Dem inaugurate memorial for de Mbuzini crash site on January 19, 1999, by Nelson Mandela plus ein wife Graça, den by President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique. Now de monument dey made professional den every October 19 dem dey do memorial service. Mozambican architect José Forjaz na ein design am, den e cost de South African government 1.5 million Rand (US$300,000). De monument get 35 steel tubes wey symbolize de number of lives wey dem lose for de air crash. At least eight foreigners die for there, including de four Soviet crew members, Machel ein two Cuban doctors, plus de Zambian den Zairean ambassadors to Mozambique.

One big street dey insyd downtown Dar es Salaam, wey be de de facto capital of Tanzania, wey dem call Samora Avenue. One of de biggest streets for Harare, de capital of Zimbabwe, dem rename am Samora Machel Avenue (e first be Jameson Avenue) after independence to show appreciation for de support Machel give for black liberation activities before majority rule. Plus, one street for Moscow too get ein name, den Zimbabwean band R.U.N.N. family get one hit song wey mourn ein loss.

Printed sources

• Munslow, Barry (ed.). Samora Machel, An African Revolutionary: Selected Speeches and Writings, London: Zed Books, 1985.

External links

• Samora Machel Archive at marxists.org
• Speech by Nelson Mandela at the unveiling of the Samora Machel Memorial
• The TRC's Special Investigation into the death of President Samora Machel
• A case of assassination? President Samora Machel and the plane crash at Mbuzini
• Biographical notes on Samora Machel
• Graça Machel and Mandela
• Historic film essay on Frelimo and Samora Machel's rehabilitation program