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THE BLACK WORLD MUST NEVER FORGET EDUARDO CHIVAMBO MONDLANE: A GREAT WARRIOR OF OUR RACE, BY VELI MBELE, 8 DECEMBER, 2018

“My brothers and sisters stand up and sing, Eduardo Mondlane is not gone Frelimo, Frelimo, your eternal flame has shown us the light of

dawn”.

This a line from Mama Zenzile Makeba’s song, ‘Aluta Continua’. Through this tune, she pays tribute to the gallant fight and victory of our Black kin in Mozambique gainst the Portuguese invaders, murderers, rapists and land-thieves.

One of the leaders of she mentions is Eduardo Chivambo Mondlane. A great freedom fighter, strategist, organiser, researcher, anthropologist, thinker and the founding leader of the Frente de Libertação de Moçambique or FRELIMO.

Mondlane was born 20 June, 1920 in the N'wajahani district of Mandlakazi in the

province of Gaza. He attended several different primary schools before enrolling in a Swiss-Presbyterian school near Manjacaze.

He later ended his secondary education in the same organisation’s church school at Lemana College at Njhakanjhaka Village above Elim

Hospital in the Transvaal, South Africa.

He also worked for a while as a teacher at nearby Shirley Primary School at Shirley Village near the township of Waterval, above Elim Hospital.

He then spent one year at the Jan H. Hofmeyr School of Social Work before enrolling at the

Witwatersrand University, in Johannesburg but was expelled from South Africa after only a year, in 1949.

As a young man, Mondlane entered the University of Lisbon, Portugal and later requested to be transferred to the United States, where he entered Oberlin College in Ohio.

He obtained a degree in anthropology and sociology at Oberlin and continued his studies at Northwestern University, where he obtained an MA and PhD. He later started working as a research officer in the Trusteeship Department of the United Nations which enabled him to travel to Afrika.

He later resigned his post to be able participate in political activism which he couldn’t do while holding the UN.

He later became an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Syracuse University and helped develop the East African Studies Program there.In 1963, he resigned from his post at Syracuse to move to Tanzania to

fully engage in the liberation struggle.

Adriano Moreira, a political science professor and advisor to António de Oliveira Salazar’s ( Portugal’s brutal leader from 1932 to 1968), offered Mondlane a post in Portuguese Mozambique’s administration.

Mondlane declined the offer in favour of joining the Mozambican pro-independence movements in Tanzania.

In 1962 Mondlane was elected president of the newly formed FRELIMO and 1963 he set up FRELIMO headquarters in Tanzania. Under him, FRELIMO began its campaign of armed resistance against Portuguese in 1964.

Like Amilcar Cabral, Patrice Lumumba and Thomas Sankara, Mondlane become a big threat to the maintainance of white supremacy ( as represented by the Portuguese), and so they decided to eliminate him.

On 3 February, 1969, a bomb was planted in a book sent to him at the FRELIMO headquarters in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It exploded when he opened the package in the house of an American friend, Betty King.

There are various theories as who was actually behind the decision to have Mondlane assassinated. As a result, his assassination remains unsolved. Mondlane was succeeded as leader of FRELIMO by its military

commander, Samora Moisés Machel.

For his contribution to the fight for Black liberation, Mondlane occupies an honourable place in the hearts and minds of Black people, the worldover.

Like all those who dedicated their lives to thw liberation of our race, we must ensure that we never stop talking about him and ensure that our children tell their children to

do the same. Mondlane was a great warrior of our race! Long Live Eduardo Chivambo Mondlane! Long Live FRELIMO!

Long Live the people of Mozambique!

References

http://www2.oberlin.edu/alummag/oampast/oam_spring98/Alum_n_n/eduardo.html

http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/eduardo-mondlane

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THE BLACK WORLD MUST NEVER FORGET SAMORA MOISES MACHEL, BY VELI MBELE, 8 DECEMBER, 2018

In her classic tune, ‘Aluta Continua’, the majestically graceful Warrior Queen, uMam’uZenzile Makeba sings:

My people, my people open your eyes

And answer the call of the drum

FRELIMO, FRELIMO,

Samora Machel, Samora Machel has come.

Maputo, Maputo home of the brave

Our nation will soon be as one.

FRELIMO, FRELIMO,

In South Africa a luta continua

Samora Machel, Samora Machel has won.

Mozambique a luta continua

A luta continua, continua, continua.

Through this tune, Mama Makeba poignantly captures the beauty, gallantry and heroism that is the great uBab'uSamora Moises Machel.Born on 29 September in 1933, in the village of Chilembene, Mozambique. Machel was raised by parents who were forced to grow cotton by the Portuguese invaders, after they had dispossessed his family of their farm land.

As a result, his relatives were forced to go and work in the mines in neighbouring South Africa, where his brother later died in what was reported as a ‘mining accident’. Machel went to a catholic school and later studied to become a nurse.

While a nursing student, he became attracted to the philosophy of Marxism. This inspired him to protest against the disparities in the wages of Black and white nurses and the general poor medical treatment that ordinary people were getting.

Expressing his disgust with these injustices, in an interview, he asserted that “…the rich man’s dog gets more in the way of vaccination, medicine and medical care than do the workers upon whom the rich man’s wealth is built.“

Unsurprisingly, he then went on to join the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique or FRELIMO, in 1962. By joining FRELIMO, Machel was not doing anything unusual. Before him, his grandparents and great-grandparents were involved in the resistance against Portuguese invasion of Mozambique.

It is therefore no exaggeration to say that resistance, rebellion and revolution ran through Machel’s veins.After receiving military training in several Afrikan countries, Machel led various guerrilla campaigns against Portuguese invasion of Mozambique.

His experience and prowess on the battle failed led to him becoming one of the most astute military strategists of his generation and eventually ascending to the position of commander and chief of the armed wing of FRELIMO.

It was under Machel’s leadership that the Portuguese invaders were forced to leave Mozambique in 1974 and victory was declared. A new Black revolutionary government was installed in June 1975, with Machel as its first president.

It is this victory over Portuguese invasion that inspired the Black Consciousness Movement ( SASO to be exact) in the white-criminal settler-colony referred to as South Africa, to organise what was called ‘VIVA FRELIMO Rallies’.

These rallies were essentially an act of rebellion against settler invasion in South Africa and other parts of Afrika, but they were also SASO’s way of reminding Black people in South Africa of the connectedness of their struggle to that of Black people in Afrika and other parts of the world.

For daring to openly celebrate the defeat of Portuguese invasion in Mozambique- the South African settler-colonial regime arrested Black Consciousness leaders such as Muntu Myeza, Zithulele Cindi, Pandelani Nefolovhodwe, Nchaupe Aubrey Mokoape, Saths Cooper, Nkwenkwe Nkomo, Kabarone ‘KK” Sedibe, Striny Moodley ( MHSRIP) and yes, believe it or not, Mosioua ‘Terror’ Lekota.

At the time of their arrest, many of them were in their twenties and were sentenced to long prison terms in the dungeon named Robben Island by the European invaders.

Upon taking power, Machel’s government instituted far-reaching social changes in the areas of economic ownership, health care and education. And because he was a pan afrikanist in word and in deed, Machel also used his government to provide military and other forms of support to the liberation armies of Black people in the neighbouring settler states of Rhodesia and South Africa.

In reaction to Machel’s support for revolutionary movements in these states, the racist-settler-minority regimes of Rhodesia and South Africa combined their resources to create and bolster a ruthless-deadly-anti-Black-counter-revolution force called RENAMO.

RENAMO went on a vicious campaign to undo all the social changes that had been introduced by the FRELIMO government. Part of REMANO’s campaign included bombing critical road infrastructure, hospitals, schools and even killing ordinary Black people in Mozambique.

This counter-revolutionary programme was carried out with the full knowledge and support of people like P.W Botha, Pik Botha, Magnus Malan, Constand Viljoen ( all of whom have never been held accountable for the atrocities they committed against thousands of Black in South Africa and other parts of Afrika).

Remember, with similar consequences for Black people in Angola, the same generals of the apartheid regime gave similar support to another anti-Black-counter-revolutionary project called UNITA ( under Jonas Savimbi).

At this stage, it became increasingly clear that, the very existence of the Black FRELIMO government, under Machel, posed a serious threat to the persistence and sustainability of the project of white-western imperialism in Afrika, and in particularly, in Southern Africa.

On October 19, 1986, on his way back from an international meeting in Zambia, Machel’s Russian-made Tupolev Tu-134 aircraft crashed in the Lebombo Mountains, near Mbuzini, Mpumalanga province. There were over 30 people on board and only 9 survived. Machel and 24 others died, this includes some of his ministers and civil servants.

There are many theories to his death. I align myself with the theory that says he was killed by a combination of agents of apartheid South Africa’s intelligence, working with some puppet Afrikan leaders and foreign intelligencies.

The growing stature and influence of Machel in the region and his close ties to communist Russia, Cuba and Warriors like Thomas Sankara, was a geo-political nightmare for the British and AmeriKKKan led project of western imperialism in Afrika- so the permanent elimination of Machel was of great benefit to western imperialism.

Besides they had already assassinated many Afrikan revolutionaries, who like him were not prepared to kneel at the feet of the white man. These are Afrikan revolutionaries like Patrice Lumumba, Amilca Cabral and his own FRELIMO comrade, Eduardo Chivambo Mondlane.

It is also important to note that, 13 days before Machel’s assassination, soldiers of the apartheid South African Defence Force (SADF) were injured by land mines near the very spot where his plane later crushed. In reaction, the chief of SADF , general Magnus Malan issued a direct threat to Machel and indicated there will be consequences for this.

This year 19 October, marked the 32nd anniversary of the assassination of this great Warrior of our race. This interestingly coincides with the 41st anniversary of the banning of 17 Black Consciousness organisations in South Africa, by the illegitimate-white settler-colonial regime of BJ Vorster in October,1977 (a month after the same regime had brutally murdered the BCM’s principal leader, uBab'uBantu Biko).

The decision to ban these BC organisations was carried out by the same apartheid minister of (in) justice, Jimmy Kruger who 3 years earlier, in 1974, administered the apartheid state’s ban of the BCM’s VIVA FRELIMO rallies.This is how important and connected Samora Machel and the Black people of Mozambique are to the Black people of South Africa.

At a recent commemoration of Machel’s assassination, a spokesperson of the government of Mozambique indicated that the investigation into Machel’s murder is on-going. Whatever happens, the truth about who killed this great Warrior of our race, must be uncovered, no matter how long it takes.

It is a pity that la nja uPik Botha died before he and the other remaining generals of the bloodthirsty-anti-Black apartheid machinery could tell us who actually killed Machel.Samora Machel lived and died for all Black people, regardless of where they may be in the world.

For this reason, the Black world must ensure that his name is never forgotten. Where possible, we should name our children and grandchildren after him and others like him.

Most importantly, Machel’s life and example will assume even greater meaning if we internalise his immortal wisdom when he said “Your life continues in those who continue the revolution.” Samora Machel lives!

#BlackPowerOrDeath

#SamoraMachelLives

Camagu!

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THE BLACK WORLD MUST NEVER FORGET MADODA NTILASHE, BY VELI MBELE, 6 DECEMBER, 2018

He is one of the people whose life, example and brutal murder, had a profound impact on my life and the lives of many of AZAPO's cadres and Black people, he interacted with.

A great son of our land. A fearless and indefatigable Warrior of our race. A gentle, kind and truthful Freedom Fighter. He is the legendary Madoba 'Dopla' Ntilashe.

March this year marked exactly 15 years since his brutal murder in Cape Town ( not far from Gugulethu), in 2003. In the picture on the right, are members of Azanian Students Convention (AZASCO), gathered at the Gugulethu Sports Complex at his funeral.

They came from all over to pay tribute to this giant. The t-shirts we are wearing were designed by none other than Warrior Chris Swepu.Below is a tribute we wrote in his honour in 2015

THE LAND BELONGS TO BLACK PEOPLE: A REFLECTION ON THE LIFE AND THOUGHT OF MADODA NTILASHE, BY VELI MBELE, 16, MARCH, 2015

It was during this time in March 2003 that AZAPO lost one of its most illustrious thinkers and Cadres, Madoda Ntilashe or Dopla, as he was affectionately known amongst his peers.

Ntilashe met his demise at the age of 39, after bullets struck him while driving through Hazeldene near Gugulethu.

A dedicated leader of AZAPO in the Western Cape, who worked tirelessly with various communities, particularly the community of Gugulelthu and surrounding areas.

One of the roles for which he would be most remembered, was his active involvement in the fight against the gangs that terrorised Gugulethu and surrounding areas.

This is what some believe could have led to his assassination.

Like Paulo Freire, Ntilashe believed that, institutionalised academic training must primarily serve as an instrument to inject students with critical consciousness and ultimately empower them to extricate themselves and their communities, from the brutal clutches of white racism, capitalism and imperialism.

In the same manner that Onkgopotse Tiro infused Tsietsi Mashinini and others with the analytical weaponry of Black Consciousness, Ntilashe dedicated his time to inculcating, in his students, a culture of independent and critical inquiry and to have a healthy appreciation for Black History.

This resulted in him being appointed Head of History at Fezeka High, in Gugulethu.Ntilashe’s selfless commitment to unshackling the minds of Black people, earned him both national and international acclaim.

In 2004, the then Western Cape Premier, Ibrahim Rasool, post humously awarded him the Membership of the Order of the Disa. On the evening of the awards, Premier Rasool described him thus:

'Teacher, leader and freedom fighter - Madoda Ntilashe. Through the dedication of teachers such as Ntilashe, Fezeka High has become model of discipline and academic performance.

He is honoured and remembered tonight for the levels of excellence he encouraged in his pupils,commitment to multilingual learning and sincere efforts in liberating the minds of the oppressed.'

Then in 2006, Arnetha Bell, in her book, Multicultural Strategies for Social Change: Carriers of the Torch, which she wrote in memory of Ntilashe, had this to say about him:

'A very powerful teacher and advocate of social change, who touched the lives of many students...'

Twelve years after Ntilashe’s mysterious murder, there is a precarious rise in the restlessness, tension and confusion among the Black majority, and this is because, for the poor and landless Black majority, the promise of the Rainbow Nation has become a debilitating nightmare.

There can be no debate about the fact that, the Movement that he dedicated his life to, AZAPO, and Black people in general- are much poorer without his fearless activism and penetrating critique of the Black Condition.

In an interview that he gave just on the eve of the 1994 general election, a journalist asked for his views on the meaning of these elections and he replied thus:

'I see no point in voting and believe that, the black majority should simply seize power. It is a sell-out election...The liberation they are talking about is the liberation for a few able black people. After April 27 it will be capitalism which is colorblind. ...(It) is only legitimising some black people to form part of the government, black people to now exploit other black people.....They have sold-out the struggle and the cause.’

He went on to say:

'There are going to be more uprisings...Mandela says blacks should not have high hopes. There is no way not to have high hopes. What was the struggle for? Those hopes will again come to the fore after April 27 and in fact, even if it is Mandela who is in power, he will have a serious problem.

The land question...is the center for all black people...White people should accept that the land belongs to black people."

This was Madoda Ntilashe. A humble Freedom Fighter, who was crazy about music and reading, and had unwavering faith in the potential of Black young people.

Above all, Ntilashe was a real Black man, who literally gave his life in defence of Black Power. May his legacy spur us on!

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blackpowerfrontsblog · 5 years

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THE BLACK WORLD MUST NEVER FORGET SAMORA MOISES MACHEL, BY VELI MBELE, 8 DECEMBER, 2018

In her classic tune, 'Aluta Continua', the majestically graceful Warrior Queen, uMam’uZenzile Makeba sings:

My people, my people open your eyes

And answer the call of the drum

FRELIMO, FRELIMO,

Samora Machel, Samora Machel has come.

Maputo, Maputo home of the brave

Our nation will soon be as one.

FRELIMO, FRELIMO,

In South Africa a luta continua

Samora Machel, Samora Machel has won.

Mozambique a luta continua

A luta continua, continua, continua.

Expressing his disgust with these injustices, in an interview, he asserted that “…the rich man's dog gets more in the way of vaccination, medicine and medical care than do the workers upon whom the rich man's wealth is built."

At the time of their arrest, many of them were in their twenties and were sentenced to long prison terms in the dungeon named Robben Island by the European invaders.

The decision to ban these BC organisations was carried out by the same apartheid minister of (in) justice, Jimmy Kruger who 3 years earlier, in 1974, administered the apartheid state's ban of the BCM’s VIVA FRELIMO rallies.This is how important and connected Samora Machel and the Black people of Mozambique are to the Black people of South Africa.

At a recent commemoration of Machel's assassination, a spokesperson of the government of Mozambique indicated that the investigation into Machel's murder is on-going. Whatever happens, the truth about who killed this great Warrior of our race, must be uncovered, no matter how long it takes.

For this reason, the Black world must ensure that his name is never forgotten. Where possible, we should name our children and grandchildren after him and others like him.

#BlackPowerOrDeath

#SamoraMachelLives

Camagu!

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THE BLACK WORLD MUST NEVER FORGET EDUARDO CHIVAMBO MONDLANE: A GREAT WARRIOR OF OUR RACE, BY VELI MBELE, 8 DECEMBER, 2018

“My brothers and sisters stand up and sing, Eduardo Mondlane is not gone Frelimo, Frelimo, your eternal flame has shown us the light of

dawn”.

Mondlane was born 20 June, 1920 in the N'wajahani district of Mandlakazi in the

province of Gaza. He attended several different primary schools before enrolling in a Swiss-Presbyterian school near Manjacaze.

He later ended his secondary education in the same organisation's church school at Lemana College at Njhakanjhaka Village above Elim

Hospital in the Transvaal, South Africa.

He also worked for a while as a teacher at nearby Shirley Primary School at Shirley Village near the township of Waterval, above Elim Hospital.

He then spent one year at the Jan H. Hofmeyr School of Social Work before enrolling at the

Witwatersrand University, in Johannesburg but was expelled from South Africa after only a year, in 1949.

As a young man, Mondlane entered the University of Lisbon, Portugal and later requested to be transferred to the United States, where he entered Oberlin College in Ohio.

He later resigned his post to be able participate in political activism which he couldn’t do while holding the UN.

fully engage in the liberation struggle.

Adriano Moreira, a political science professor and advisor to António de Oliveira Salazar's ( Portugal’s brutal leader from 1932 to 1968), offered Mondlane a post in Portuguese Mozambique's administration.

Mondlane declined the offer in favour of joining the Mozambican pro-independence movements in Tanzania.

Like Amilcar Cabral, Patrice Lumumba and Thomas Sankara, Mondlane become a big threat to the maintainance of white supremacy ( as represented by the Portuguese), and so they decided to eliminate him.

commander, Samora Moisés Machel.

For his contribution to the fight for Black liberation, Mondlane occupies an honourable place in the hearts and minds of Black people, the worldover.

Like all those who dedicated their lives to thw liberation of our race, we must ensure that we never stop talking about him and ensure that our children tell their children to

do the same. Mondlane was a great warrior of our race! Long Live Eduardo Chivambo Mondlane! Long Live FRELIMO!

Long Live the people of Mozambique!

References

http://www2.oberlin.edu/alummag/oampast/oam_spring98/Alum_n_n/eduardo.html

http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/eduardo-mondlane

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