FACTTheme: Samora Moisés Machel

Produced by the Research Team

Sheet

DID YOU KNOW?

3rd Edition

Graphics by Vuk’uzenzele

19 OCTOBER 2016

Marks the 30th anniversary of the plane crash that claimed the live of former Mozambican president, Samora Moisés Machel. ............................................................................

WHO IS SAMORA MOISÉS MACHEL

1st Mozambican black President - Born on 29 September 1933 at Gaza Province, Mozambique.............................................................................

1984: Signed the Nkomati Accord - a non-aggression pact with SA government.Machel helped most of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) including South Africa fight colonial rulers. ..................................................

19 October 1986: Died in a plane crash in Mbuzini (Mpumalanga Province, SA)..................................................

WHAT HAPPENED?Travelling from a Frontline State Summit in Lusaka, Zambia their plane crashed.

Aircraft: Tupovec TU-134

Crash happened in Mbuzini, on the plateau of the Lebombo mountains bordering Mozambique & South Africa

Machel and Mozambican ministers, senior government officials, journalists, pilotsdied.

34In total

Died

Route

Where are we currently?

January 1999: Joaquim Chissano & Nelson Mandela unveiled the Samora Machel Monument.

Monument designed by: Architect Jose Fortaz

2006: Crash site in Mbuzini declared a heritage site.

The SA government opened a community library, Mbuzini Samora Machel Public Library

Where are we going?

SA continues to promote solidarity and working together with Mozambique to promote peace.

Mozambique and South Africa continue to have trade, political, cultural and social ties.