By Blessing Vava
It is exactly five years since the Committee of the Peoples Charter (CPC), launched the inaugural Samora Machel Public lecture at the New Ambassador Hotel in Harare in 2010 to celebrate and remember the life of Comrade Samora Moises Machel.
>Comandete Moises Machel
The inaugural launch drew eminent speakers drawn from various civil society organisation, with the guest of honour being the Deputy Ambassador of Mozambique First Secretary of the Mozambican Embassy His Excellency Mr Ossisa.
he 19th of October will forever be engraved in our hearts as we remember a great revolutionary, Mozambican President Cde Samora Machel who was killed by the apartheid counter revolutionares together with 34 other comrades on their way from a peace keeping mission in Zambia.
It is not a secret that this revolutionary belongs to that class of great icons of our struggle, despite efforts from Rhodesian forces who were instrumental in creating and sponsoring a rebel force RENAMO, Machel did not succumb, and he indeed offered brotherly solidarity to Zimbabwe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvj0Feq5vpI
Machel understood that even Mozambique’s political independence could not be complete without the liberation of our brothers and sisters across the borders in the region and the continent, particularly those who were under white minority regimes in the then Rhodesia and South Africa. Years to come he was instrumental in coming up with the ideal of the Frontline States, a SADCC initiative that also sought to assist bring freedom to South Africa.
Samora was not obsessed by divisive tactics but his call was for Zimbabweans to be united. His speech in 1980 was a piece of advise to our leaders when he said; “To ensure national unity, there must be no Shonas in Zimbabwe, there must be no Ndebeles in Zimbabwe, there must be Zimbabweans. Some people are proud of their tribalism. But we call tribalists reactionary agents of the enemy.”
Machel believed in a multi ethnic-cultural approach and his vision for a liberated Zimbabwe whose revolutionary goal was to unite everyone regardless of race, religion, ethnic origin and religious belief.
Therefore, as we celebrate the life of Samora, we pay tribute to the people of Mozambicans who were also victims during of our struggle, thousands of their nationals perished as they assisted Zimbabwe attain her independence from the settler regime.
Such great sacrifice, should forever be cherished.
As we remember Machel, the youth of this generation should always be inspired by the works of this great leader and his desires to see development in the continent. It is a call to duty to fight for the future of Zimbabwe. Like Che Guevara said: “The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.” The generation of President Machel did not fail, they refused to, for Samora was a man who attached so much importance to the national liberation of the African people.
His conviction, selflessness, devotion, dedication and commitment to the cause of his people was to him more than just a question of principle: it was a way of life.’
As we commemorate Machel, we should always remember the responsibilities and challenges we face for us not to move away from the solid principles that drove the vision of luminaries like Samora Machel.
However, we continue to ask ourselves if we have been able to produce cadreship in the calibre of Machel to serve society as we seek not only to undo the legacy of colonisation/greed, corruption and undemocratic tendencies that seek to marginalise the poor but to rebuild a just society in the light of the vision Samora Machel and his generation advanced.
The revolutionary task at hand is enormous, for us to succeed in defeating the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe we need to have a situation that produces self-motivated, disciplined and committed individual cadres who can apply their minds on defining issues of the day? Dedicated and fearless leaders in the mould of Machel are needed to lead society.
However, such leaders do not just sprout, they are nurtured and groomed to be able to lead the struggle for a prosperous Zimbabwe. Political and ideological clarity is a fundamental aspect that gives us proper meaning for the struggle for social democracy.
Comrades should always read struggle documents in order to answer the questions of ordinary people about the past struggles and what needed to be done to take the struggle forward.
In conclusion I quote one of Samora’s famous statements during one address, ”Aluta Continua ! Aluta Continua! Aluta Continua! contra o que? Against what must the struggle continue? Against Tribalism ! Against ignorance, Against illiteracy, Against exploitation, Against superstition Against misery, Against hunger, Against lack of lack of clothing.” That was the great orator, great leader of our struggle, we will always remember.
Blessing Vava writes from Chipinge. He can be contacted on blessingvava@gmail.com, Twitter @blevava