JOSINA MUTEMBA MACHEL

Josina Machel was a key figure in the Mozambican struggle for independence. She was born into a well known Nationalistic family on the 10th of August, 1945 in Vilanculos Inhambe province of Mozambique. Her family were Assimilado's and they were anti-colonial activist, her father was a nurse in Gaza province. She was fortunate to attend a school for Assimilado's. Later she moved into the capital of Lourenco Marques( Present day Maputo), to go to a commercial school, which she completed after 4 years while living with her grandmother.

She became politically active in student groups and became a member of an underground cell of the Mozambique Liberation Front commonly referred to as FRELIMO. FRELIMO was founded in Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania on the 25th of June, 1962. After the creation of FRELIMO, she became of member of a FRELIMO clandestine cell, she was in charge of mobilising the youths. 

    In March 1964, she and a group of women left Mozambique through an underground cell for Tanganyika (Present day Tanzania). The secret service of Rhodesia (Present day Zimbabwe) intercepted the whole group at Victoria Falls and sent them back to Lourenco Marques where PIDE imprisoned them. While in Jail, Josina was subjected to threats, later on, she was bribed with a scholarship to Portugal. In August 1964, due to a campaign of youths, she was released. In the beginning of 1965, together with other comrades, she attempted to escape again through Swaziland. They travelled underground through South Africa. 

    On arrival in Bechuanaland (Present day Bostwana), the British authorities arrest them. On the time of their arrest, the De-colonization committee was meeting, during which the British government was called out for connivance with the Portugese, hence forcing Josina to be released after 12 days. Finally, in May 1965, she and her comrades arrived in Tanzania.

    In Tanzania, she was in headquaters of FRELIMO where she received military training and rose in ranks. In August 1965, FRELIMO's leadership put her in charge of organizing political education in the women's unit of Niassa Province, she did so for 6 months. In 1967, she refused a scholarship by FRELIMO, insisting to be a part of the women's detachment.

    In 1968, she was a delegate at the second Congress of FRELIMO which was held at Niassa province. She played a significant role, particularly in defence of the conception of people's war and in support of the line adopted by the central committee in promoting the emancipation of women. Soon after that, she was given the responsibility of Social Affairs in the Defence Department.

    In 1969, she married Comrade Samora .M. Machel, who was elected as the president of FRELIMO and also became the first president of Mozambique. She did not let her marriage get in the way of her work, continued working for her country till 1971, when she died due to a serious illness on the 7th of April in a hospital in Dar es Salam at the age of 25. Her last words were

 " I leave behind two preoccupations, the Revolution and my family"

. Though, she did not live to see Mozambique get its independence, the zeal and passion she had for the Revolution inspired many. Her husband, while paying his tributes, said that the best way to mourn a comrade is by holding the fallen guy and continue combat. The day of her death, April 7th is marked as Mozambique's women's day.

 SOURCES

Mozambique Encycolpedia

Wikipedia

HistoryVille