Samora Moises Machel, the first president of Mozambique. Photo credit: Thisisafrica
Samora Moises Machel, Mozambique
Born in 1975 in Gaza Province, Portuguese Mozambique, Samora Moises Machel was the son of a successful local farmer. He attended a mission elementary school but he never finished his secondary education.
He was inspired to join the anti-colonial movement while working at Miguel Bombarda hospital in Lourenco Marques, where he protested against the oppression of black nurses who were paid less than whites for doing the same job.
Mache later moved to Tanzania where he joined a rebel group calling itself the FRELIMO guerillas. While in Tanzania, he obtained military training and rose through the ranks to become the group’s prominent commander. The FRELIMO rebels, most of who were from neighboring countries, helped Machel to kick the Portuguese settlers out of Mozambique in 1975. He later declared the country’s first President.
It is because of the great sacrifices made by these heroes that we are free and independent today. We should therefore be courteous enough to ensure that their vision of a united Africa is not watered down by our selfish interests.
