Africans to Celebrate Samora Machel's Life

Portrait of Samora Machel Who Led the Nation of Mozambique to National Independence From Portuguese Colonialism, a photo by panafnewswire on Flickr.

Nation to celebrate Samora Machel’s life

Friday, 19 October 2012 01:07
Farirai Machivenyika Herald Reporter

Zimbabweans and Mozambicans have lined up numerous activities to commemo­rate the life and death of Mozambique’s founding president, Cde Samora Machel.

Cde Machel died in a plane crash in 1986. The revolutionary leader, 33 officials and crew perished on October 19, 1986 when the plane they were travelling in crashed into a hillside of the Lebombo Mountains in South Africa.
They were on their way from a Frontline States meeting in Zambia.

It’s believed apartheid South Africa masterminded the tragedy.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, a repre­sentative of Mozambicans resident in Zim­babwe, Ms Esmeralda Mashinge, said the com­memorations would start with a clean up cam­paign at Rujeko Clinic in Dzivaresekwa today.

“We have organised a clean up exercise at Rujeko Clinic in Dzivarasekwa today and then next Saturday we will have a function at our embassy where we will have various cul­tural activities as we celebrate the life of Pres­ident Machel.

“It would be a get together where we inter­act and reflect on his works and experience as we strive to improve our lives as Africans,” she said. Cde Machel led Mozambique to independ­ence from Portugal in June 25, 1975.

A dedicated Pan Africanist, Cde Machel believed in blacks controlling their resources and nationalised plantations and properties owned by the Portuguese.

He supported Zanu-PF, the African National Congress and other liberation move­ments in their fight against white minority regimes in Rhodesia and South Africa.

Political analyst Mr Goodwine Mureriwa said Cde Machel left an indelible mark on the continent. “He was selfless and sacrificed a lot to help other Africans free themselves from the bondage of colonialism,” he said.

University of Zimbabwe lecturer Dr Charity Manyeruke also commended the role Cde Machel played in liberating Africa.

“He was one of the rare breed of leaders who did not value material things but the welfare of his people and African compatriots.”