Samora Machel's Most Memorable And Worthwhile Quotes

Whenever there is mention of Mozambique, the former Portuguese colony that attained its independence in 1975, what easily pops up in one's mind is the name Samora Machel. He was a politician, revolutionary and military commander par excellence. 

He left an indelible imprint on the continent of Africa.Being an ardent follower of Marxism-Leninism, claiming that he was inspired by actual struggles and not merely reading it in books, he sought to promote an egalitarian society in Mozambique in which every African in the country would benefit. 

His unwavering support to the war against colonialism and white imperialism cannot go unmentioned. Obviously, although the death still remains shrouded in mystery, it was the major reason why his life was cut short. 

Below are some of his most memorable and worthwhile quotes:

1. The Emancipation of women is not an act of charity, the result of a humanitarian or compassionate attitude. The liberation of women is a fundamental necessity for the revolution, a guarantee of its continuity and a precondition for its victory.

2. 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.

3. International solidarity is not an act of charity: It is an act of unity between allies fighting on different terrains toward the same objective. The foremost of these objectives is to aid the development of humanity to the highest level possible.

4. Personalities and fame pass; the revolution must remain.

5. The state must be the first to be organized and totally committed to serving the interests of the people.

6. 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.

7. There is no place for White racism, as there is no place for Black racism, because racism, racism, in its essence, in its essence racism is an organised attitude, a reactionary attitude.

8. All races, all peoples in the world want liberty, want independence.

9. Salaries and wages must reflect the reality of the enterprise’s economic performance; deviations from the planned performance should be reflected in pay.

10. It is essential to link enterprises on the basis of objective laws of a socialist economy and legal system.