1933 - 1986

Founder and First President of the People’s Republic of Mozambique (1975-1986), Military commander, Revolutionary socialist leader, Pan-Africanist

Samora Machel was a passionate Marxist leader who led Mozambique to independence from Portugal in 1975 and became its first president. During his 11 years as leader of independent Mozambique, he called for the nationalization (government ownership) of the Portuguese plantations and property and moved quickly to have his Frelimo government establish public schools and health clinics for the poor.

Machel allowed revolutionaries fighting white minority regimes in Rhodesia and South Africa to operate within Mozambiques borders. In 1970 he helped form the Front Line States, a group of southern African leaders committed to helping end Apartheid. Their support was however hampered because of the economic interdependence between its citizens and South Africa and because of the military might and superiority of its neighbour.

Machel remained bedeviled by the Pretoria-sponsored rebel movement Renamo, and died mysteriously in 1986 in a mysterious plane crash in South Africa. The Front Line States held Pretoria responsible for the crash. In general terms, South Africa is responsible as it is responsible for all mischief in this region, said Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, chair of a meeting of the six leaders, at the time of the tragedy.

Did You Know?

The Samora Machel Monument in Mbuzini Mpumalanga marks the spot where the plane carrying Machel crashed in 1986. It incorporates some of the wreckage of the plane in which he died.