IOSIÌ{A]ï|AO]|EL ComradeJosina was born on rhe 1OthAugusr, 1945,,in the Province of , where her parents were working. Her family - Muthemba - is rich in patriotic tradi- tions. Her uncle Mateus SansaoMuthemba, who was killed by reactionary elementsin 19ó8, was a member of the FRELIMO Central Committee, and an active organiserof clandestinecells in SouthernMozambique. Almost all the other membersof her family are in the Portugueseprisons, for their activerole againstcolonial- ism. Her father was arrestedin 1965 and is still in the political prison of Machava.Thus ComradeJosina grew up and was educatedin a spirit of patriotism and hatred for the oppressors. In 195ó, after finishingprimary education,she went to Lourenço Marques to do a commercial course,and completed the 4th year. As a student she was integrated into the clandestinepolitical activitieswhich were mo- bilisingMozambican youth. After the creation of FRELIMO shebecame a mem- ber of a FRELIMO clandestinecell, and was an active organiser,mobilising the youth to follow her example and join FRELIMO. In March, 196+,she left her family and her studiesand together with a group of comrades, left through the underground for Tangan- yika. The Secret Service of Rhodesiaintercepted the whole group at Victoria Falls and sent them back to Lourenço Marqueswhere PIDE imprisonedthem. Whilst in jail ComradeJosina was subjectedro pres- suresand threats and rvasheld incommunicado.Having failed with their threars, the PIDE tried to bribe her with the promise of a scholarshipin Portugal.Comrade Josina did not succumbto corruption as she had not succumbedto intimidation.She refused the scholarship, and was firm in her decisionto join the FRELIMO fighters. In August, 196+, as a result of an international campaignof solidarity mobilising yourh of many coun- tries, the PIDE was forced to releaseComrade Josina and the wholegroup. Immediately she again took up her post in the ranksof the clandestinemilitants and played a leadingpart in a massivecampaign for the distribution of FRELIMO pamphlets throughout sourhern Mozam- bique on ChristmasEve, 196+. At the beginningof 1965, togetherwith orhercom- rades,she attemptedanother escape through Swaziland. In the group were + of her cousinsand her younger sister. They travelledunderground through South Afri- ca. On arrival in Bechuanalandthe British authorities arrestedthem. At that time the DecolonisationCommit- tee was meeting. The British Government was de- nounced at the meeting for its connivancewith Portu- guese colonialism, and was forced to free the whole group, after having kept them in jail for 12 days. Fi- nally, in May, 1965, ComradeJosina and her comrades arrivedin . The FRELIMO leadership,taking into consideration the high patriotic and revolutionary spirit of comrade Josina,entrusted her, in August,1965, with the delicate task of organisingpolitical educationin a women'sunit in NiassaProvince. This task sheundertook successfullv for 6 months. In 1967, FRELIMO proposedthat she accepta scholarshipto continue her studiesabroad. She asked that insteadshe be allowedto join the Women'sDetach- ment which the CentralCommittee had iust created. 2 In 1968, after finishing her political and military training,she was sent to CaboDelgado Province. In J.rly, 1968, she was z delegateat the Second Congressof FRELIMO which was held in NiassaProv- ince. She played a significantrole, particularlyin de- fence of the conceptionof a people'swar; and in sup- port of the line adopted by the CentralCommittee in promoting the emancipationof women.Soon after that she wasgiven the responsibilityof SocialAffairs in the DefenceDepartment. In August, 1969, whiie continuingas a memberof the Women'sDetachment, she was girrenanother task; that of headingthe Women'sSection in the Department of External Affairs. She contributed decisivelyin applying the leader- ship'sdecision to reorganisesocial affairs to respondto the difficult problems createdby the colonialistwar. She was one of the promoters and organisersof the orphanagesand aiso took an extremely important part in the re-structuringand developmentof the Tunduru EducationalCentre. In May, 1969, she married Comrade SamoraM. Machel,who was later electedPresident of FRELIMO, in May, I970. Her marriage,far from removingher from the struggle,was a factor which gaveher a new stimulus. Sheundertook many missionsin differentprovinces, where at the same time she promoted the strugglefor the emancipation of women and their total integration in the Revolution.Added to her tasksin the interior lvere those in the exterior where the vclice of the Mozambicanwomen washeard through Comrade Josina and where she contributed to the nrobilisationof inter- national solidarity with the struggleof our people,and in particular,our women. The constant and exhaustingwork slowl,vunder- mined her strength.But, in spite of her serioltsillness, she coniinuc.l her tasks.In September,l97O sheparti- cipateclin tÌre SecondConference of tÌreDepartment of Education and Culture, where shespoke out againstthe traditional practices which oppress the Mozambican women. On 28 December, 1.970she started another march through NiassaProvince, aimed at organisingorphanages and developing the activities of the Women's Detach- ment. In the course of her march she held numerous meetingswith the masses,militants and women. In February, 197I, she took part in the Second Conferenceof the Defence Department. She discussed and clarified correct methods to eliminatethe obstacles which preventthe emancipationof women. On 6 March she went to Cobo Delgado Province, with the sameobjectives she had achievedin Niassa. Her health deterioratedrapidly; and she was forced to accept to be taken to Tanzania.She died in hospital in Dar es Salaamin the dawn of 7 Aprrl, 1971.. Her high revolutionary spirit in acceptingsacrifices moved the doctors and the comradeswho were with her. Moments before she died, she told them: "l leave behind two preoccupations,the Revolution and my family". Her passingdeprived the Revolution of an invaluable cadre, deprived the Mozambicanwomen of an enlight- enedleader. But her work continues.In FRELIMO when a com- rade falls, another will pick up the gun and continue fighting. We therefore say with our Presidentin a poem he wrote,

The flowers which fall from the tree are to preparethe land for new and more beautiful flowers to bloom in the next season. Your life continues in those who continue the Revo- lution. +

The Executive Committee of FRELIMO announces with pro- found sorrow that Comrade Josina Abiatar Michel, wife of the Presidentof FRELIMO, Comrade Samora MoisésMachel, died on Aprif 7, 1971, Írom illness.She was 25 years old. Comrade Josina Abiatar Machel was a militant in the strugglefor the liberation of our country, always dedicated, courageousand neverfaltering. A fighter in the front line, she was one of the leaders of the Women's Detachment of FRELIMO - the women's fighting corps of the People's Forces for the Liberation of Mozambique. She was Head oÍ the Section of Social Affairs and was responsiblefor External Affairs in the FRELIMO Women's Section. The example of her life as a militant oÍ the Mozambican Revolu- tion and the contribution she made, particularly in promoting the role of Mozambican women will always remain with us and will be a guide and encouragement to continue the struggle against Portuguesecolonialism and imperialism until final victory. The Executive Committee oÍ Frelimo

8th April, 1971

6 MessagesFrom Liberation Movements

On this day, we the women of the African National Congressjoin - you in remembering Josina Machel a brave young FRELIMO militant, a fighting woman who sacrificedher life for her country. Josina Machel lived and died so that Mozambique should be free. She representsthe courage and dedication, the glorious spirit of the fighting women of FRELIMO. But she belongs not only to FRELIMO. Josina belongs to all women everywhere who are fighting for liberty. We are all proud of JosinaMachel. Her memory will never dim; it will always remain as a source of inspiration to all women fighting for liberty and justice. She will always remain a symbol of youth, of courage,of high idealsand great sacrifice.

The revolutionary spirit of Josina lives on in all her comradesin her sisters fighting side by side with their menfolk in Mozam- bique. We women of the African National Congresssalute the revolutionary courage and spirit of the women of FRELIMO. We salute the precious memory of our comrade JosinaMachel. The Women'sSection of the African National Congress of Soutb Africa.

Comrade Josina, One year has gone by since your departure. But you are to us, women who participate in this common struggleof our peoples againstthe same oppressor,you are to us like a star guiding us on the hard path to victory. In the name of the Angolan Women's Organisation,once again we pay homage to you and through you we pay homage also to all the Mozambican women who, with courage and energy fight for the freedom of their motherland. The Angolan Women of OMA seein you a sisterthat gaveher life for the revolution, for the same ideals we are fighting for' ro free our land from imperialist exploitation and to give our sonsa free country. We will follow your example of a young freedom fight- er, of a brave and dedicatedrevolutionary woman! A Vitória é certa! Tbe Organisation of Angolan Women

JOSINA YOU ARE NOT DEAD

Josina you are not dead because we have assumedyour responsi- bilities and they live in us.

I You have not died for the causesyou championed were inherited I by us in their entirety. You are gone from us, but the weapon and rucksack that you left, your tools of work, are part of my burden. The blood you shed is but a small drop in úe flood we have already given and still have to give. The earth must be nourished and the more fertile it is the better do its trees flourish, the bigger are the shadows they cast, the sweeter are their fruits. Out of your memory I will fashion a hoe to turn the sod enriched by your sacrifice . . . And new fruits will grow. The Revolution renews itself from its best and most beloved children. This is the meaning of your sacrifice: it will be a living example to be followed. My joy is that as patriot and woman you died doubly free in this time when the new power and the new woman are emerging. In your last moments you apologised to the doctors for not being able to help them. The manner in which you accepted the sacrifice is an inexhaus- tible source of inspiration and courage. When a comrade so completely assumesthe new values he wins our heart, becomes our banner. Thus more than wife. vou were to me sister. friend and comrade- in-arms. How can we mourn a comrade but by holding the fallen gun and continuing the combat. My tears flow from the same source that gave birth to our love, our will and our revolutionary life. Thus these tears are both a token and a vow of combat. The flowers which fall from the tree are to prepare the land for new and more beautiful flowers to bloom in the next season. Your life continues in those who continue the Revolution. Samora M. Machel Cì C> a: aì a>a>CGC\C C'rcGzl CCC

Messagesto the FRELIMO CentralCommittee on the lst Anniversarvof the Death of ComradeJosina Machet (excerpts)

I From úe Provincial Committee of Cabo Delgado. ". . we shall fight until the total liberation of our country, following the example of our Comrade Josina Machel, who was always absolutely dedicated to the revolution, courageous,and with a high political consciousness. . . On this day, commemorat- ing her death, we are honouring the work she did;we are piedging to assumethe tasksshe left unfinished; w€ âr€ reaffirming that we shall undertake our revolutionary tasks with the same spirit as hers. . . She has left us physically, but will always be with us. . ."

II From the Provincial Committee of Niassa. "In every military base, in every village and school and hospital we are today commemorating the 1st anniversaryof the death of our comrade Josina Machel. We took this initiative becausewe feel that the activities she undertook for the struggle and her exemplary behaviour, in which she placed the revolution above everything elseincluding herself,makes her a heroine . . . She died as a result of her work, which undermined her health . . . She therefore died fighting as in the front line . . . Her contribu- tion to the Revolution, her work among her people and interna- tionally, leading the Mozambican Women on the path of their emancipation and making their voices heard abroad was invalu- able . . ."

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III From the Cadres of úe Defence Department. "lt seemsa strangething to commemorate the death of someone. But in this case it is important to do it, for our people to be stimulated by the example of Comrade Josina'slife at the service of the people in the struggle for national liberation, for the building of a new society, and in particular for the emancipation and integration of women in the revolution . . . The obstacles createdby the reactionaryconceptions about women, existingin the traditional society or brought by colonialism, started to be fought by the example of Comrade Josina who spoke out openly againstthem ... On the occasionof the 1st anniversaryof her death, the Defence Department wishesto expressits deep admira- tion and respect for the courage,total determination dedication and revolutionary spirit shown by Comrade Josina during her life. . ""

11 WE CONTINUE WITH YOU

Josina,

It was still dawn when you departed. We had no time to say farewell' you departedsuddenly, silently, like a shootingstar. A gun which stood without owner A child who cried in the night weremute witnesses.toyour absence. It was still dawn wheinyou departed.

Do we mourn for you? It is too soonfor us to mourn. Absencehurts in relation to time and understanding. Yesterdayyou were with us, togetherwe were building our world. You tended the children whom the revolution had placedin your care. You carriedwith you the seedand sharedthe fruit of freedom. Today you are no more . . . for ever! What doesthis mean?

(Ah, if only our handswere hear,yhammers that could beat and break the earth that enfoldsyou !)

Our reasonadmits your absence, but our hearts refuseto understand or to accept. It is too soonfor us to mourn. t2 Will we learn to live without you? Who will teach us the right words to sustainand consoleus in our moments of human hesitationand uncertainty? Who will show the world the strength the courageand the grace of the women of our country? You were the symbol of purity, the sister,the comçade, the embodimentof the revolution. Whenyou departed,the meaning of many things ceasedto be so clear. . .

But listen: When the struggledemands: Forward! we shall advance. You will be with us. In our marches,in our battles, in the schools,in the shambas, in all our missions, you will be with us. Halted at 25 your youth will be erernal, inspiringus, encouragingus.

No, we do not need to learn how to live without you. We continue with you our struggle.

Jorge Rebelo

13 JOSINA MACHEL CITIZEN OF THE WORLD

JosinaMachel, citizenof the world, your heart knew all the words, all the languages, all the idioms; in it everyonehad a place.

Your heartof musicand steel knew only to beatout the rhythms of freedom and of love.

You gaveforth the strengthof truth and its light burned like a sun. You taught us to seethe world in a mannerclean and true. Your exampleshowed us that there are men and no races. that in all the world'sveins the samered blood runs.

From you, Josina,we know that to give ourselvesis to saveourselves; that the offer of ourselvesto our people is somethingbeautiful . . rÌoÍe : is ineluctable,necessary as the breadwe eat, the air rvebreathe.

Josina,sister, teacher, exempÌar,seed, comrade, you arenot dead,will neverdie. Love and freedom can neverbe killed.

Rosária Tembe

T4 THIS IS THE TIME

This is the time we were waiting for. Our gunsare light in our hands the reasonsand aims of the struggle clearin our minds.

The blood shedby our heroes makesus sadbut resolute. It is the price of our freedom. We keep them closein our hearts from their examplenew generations - revolutionarygenerations - are alreadybeing born.

Ahead of us we seebitter hardships. But we seealso our childrenrunning free our country plunderedno more.

This is the time to be ready and firm. The time to give ourselves to the Revolution.

JOSINAMACHEL

15 MlapoÍ Mozambique

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