Life overseas - Chapter 10

On arrival in the USA in 1963, the American Department of Foreign Affairs summoned me on a specific day. On arrival, I was introduced to Mrs. Janet Mondlane, the wife of Dr. Eduardo Mondlane. She was a white lady and I was not surprised for Dr. Mondlane had told me about her. They told me that Janet wanted someone to accompany her to Tanzania. They were afraid that, if she went to Tanzania and asked for Dr. Mondlane, she would be killed. They wanted
me to accompany her and they promised me that I could return to the States. I refused the request. It had taken me a long time to reach the States and I couldn’t allow that opportunity to be wasted. I told the authorities that I was not prepared to return to Africa before I had finished my studies. Mrs. Janet Mondlane was very angry, and since that time we have never met face to face again.

That same year, I started my studies at an English School in New York. I did a six-month intensive laboratory course. It was a very interesting and unique course. I had no choice but to learn the English language in order to further my studies.

During that time, I had to find a girlfriend who could teach me to speak English. Her name was Evelyn Colman and she used to stay in Philadelphia where I visited her every weekend. She introduced me to many different people. Sometimes they would laugh at the way I spoke, but it was not a big deal to me – I just wanted to learn how to speak. At the end of the six months, I could communicate well with other fellows and I could read a newspaper and understand everything.

After six months, I successfully finished my English laboratory course. I then began my BA: Political Science at Manhattan College in New York. While I was in the USA, I corresponded with FRELIMO in Tanzania. I was appointed a representative of FRELIMO in the USA. At that time I started running community development projects in the USA.

In 1965, I went to Ford Ham University to study for my MA: Political Science. In that same year my girlfriend left me, because she said I had no money to take care of her. While at Ford Ham University, I received the surprising news that Chissano and Mocoumbi had to return to Tanzania because they failed their courses. Dr. Mondlane encouraged them to be part of the struggle. I learnt that Chissano was appointed to take care of the Security Department and Mocoumbi to take care of the youth. I used to correspond with Mocoumbi while I was in America. By that time, the war against the Portuguese government was ongoing for a year and the spirit was high in the camp.

I had a lot do in America, both for FRELIMO and the American government. For FRELIMO, I corresponded with many organisations asking for assistance. One of those organisations was NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), which later on, Dr. Mondlane corresponded with. For the American governement, I involved myself during election time, encouraging the people of America to register and vote. I was so happy to be involved in a democratic society, and hoped that I would have the opportunity to vote in my own country. That’s not all I did, I used to run the street childrens’ programme which was sponsored by the American government. I was a mentor for the programme and it was very interesting to work with children. Despite all these activities, my heart longed to be back with my people in Mozambique who needed to be freed.

I was well connected to an American family by the surname of Melady. This family used to spend time with me, advise me and were of great help to me. I always concerned them amongst those who had a positive influence on my life.

I fell in love with a beautiful lady called Ruth White. Ruth was my second relationship, Evelyn having been my first. How did I meet Ruth? It was a Thursday afternoon and I was home from the University. Since I was a bit tired, I just ate leftovers and rushed to the river for some fresh air. I lay down near the river dressed in my pants, half naked. After a while, I saw a very beautiful lady. It was as if I have never seen such a beauty in my life. She looked as if she was from another planet. She was avarage size and well built. She was slender with a light complexion. She was a coloured lady. She came towards where I was lying and greeted me.

She introduced herself and asked whether I knew of an apartment to rent. She was looking for a house and a job in New York, for she had just completed her university studies. I told her that I was familiar with New York and promised to look for an apartment to rent. We exchanged contact numbers and we talked.

She seemed to be surprised by my accent and asked where I was from. I told her that I was from Africa. ‘Where about?’ she wanted to know. I told her that Mozambique was in the southern part of Africa. It was the first time she had met anybody from that part of the continent.

We talked for some time and before she left, I complemented her on her beauty. She smiled and said nothing. I couldn’t stop thinking about her and I was surprised and very happy to get a call from her. We stayed in touch until I asked her on a date and everything was finalised during that date.

I married Ruth in 1967. We moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where I wanted to complete my course in International Relationships. While I was in Switzerland Dr. Mondlane told me that there were conflicts within the FRELIMO ranks.

Capitalists were divided against communists. Dr. Mondlane told me to communicate directly with him for he trusted nobody.

In 1968, my first son was born and I named him Ervin. That same year my wife decided to go back home to America for a visit. When she reached America, she called me and said that she was no longer interested in being married to me, for she feared that I would take her to Africa after my graduation. That same year she sent me divorce papers to sign. I signed the documents and our marriage ended. However, for the sake of Ervin, we always stayed in touch.

In 1969, five years since the war had started in Mozambique, I was corresponding directly with Dr. Mondlane, because of the confusion in the FRELIMO ranks.

On the 3rd of February 1969, when I returned from school, very tired, I threw my books on my bed and went to visit my friend Freitas, who had the room opposite mine. The first thing he said was, ‘Bad news. Your president Mondlane is dead.’ I did not believe him, but later it was confirmed on the BBC news. It came as a shock to hear that the leader of the guerilla movement in Mozambique had passed away. I was very sad and could not concentrate on my studies for days. I never lost hope in the struggle though. I knew that we were going to succeed. I knew that FRELIMO had strong people in politics like Oris Simango and Cavandame. I did not know Machel, and I never thought of Chissano or Mocoumbi taking over as they were very young.

I tried to contact many people to find out more about what I had just heard, but sadly it was a reality, Dr. Mondlane was dead. After some days, I heard that the FRELIMO movement was pushing forward with success. A few weeks later, I learnt that the new leader of FRELIMO was known as Samora Moises Machel, and that many of those who had been close to Dr. Mondlane were viewed with suspicion. Surprisingly, one of the suspects was Oris Simango, the former deputy president of FRELIMO.

Late in 1969, I was fortunate to meet Samora Machel in Geneva for the first time. He was now the president of FRELIMO and was elected by the executive committee. When Samora arrived in Geneva, I was the one who received him.

Machel was cool, but he spoke with authority. He told me that he had heard about me. He had come to tell me that Mozambicans, not Portuguese, would soon rule Mozambique. He said that, I should not forget to go home once I finished my studies.

The same year I received Armando Guebuza, also a strong man in the ranks of FRELIMO. He came with the same message of encouragement. He told me that Mozambique would need me after the war. At the beginning of 1970, Machel came to Geneva for a conference. I had an opportunity to meet him again and I assured him on his proposal that I would return to Mozambique after my studies, for that was my goal.

In late 1970, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) invited me to attend their conference in Accra Ghana. While I was in Ghana, I rubbed shoulders with people like Joaquim Chissano, Milcar Cabral and many others. In Ghana, I met my enemy to be, Sergio Vieira, for the first time. Sergio was a coloured man born in Mozambique. He was one of the top dogs in FRELIMO. The only areas in which he failed to beat me, was that Sergio could not speak English and he never had a chance to attend school overseas. So the black Africans, who were in Ghana, could not relate to him despite the fact that he was one of the top officials, because he couldn’t communicate in English. Worse of all, he was a coloured.

He wanted to know who I was, and if I was a spy, because I was studying in a country of white people, the people he was fighting against. I was very close to many of the FRELIMO people and they were pleased about my presence. I helped in a number of ways, translating for our people who couldn’t speak English and contributing to the meeting. Sergio didn’t like that and thought of me as a threat to his position.

In 1972, I completed my studies. On the day of my graduation, I was very happy to be addressed as Doctor. A lady I had never seen before came to congratulate me. She was happy that I was from Africa and what I had achieved thus far. She said that many people in Switzerland failed to reach the level I accomplished, despite the fact that they had all the opportunities around them. She warned me that not everybody was going to like my ideas in my country, but she said I must always carry my people’s concerns at heart. She emphasized that people in Africa were disadvantanged and needed people like me. She hugged me and left without saying who she was.

Soon after my graduation, I packed my things and got ready to go to Tanzania. I went via the USA to bid my family farewell. While I was in the States, I met Urius Simango, one of the former big guns of FRELIMO. Simango had attended a service in a Methodist church in America. After the church service, I approached him. He told me how FRELIMO had betrayed him and vowed to clear his name.

That was the last time I saw him. In the FRELIMO barracks, I mainly did office work. I clashed with Sergio Vieira who never liked my presence. Since he was in charge of the food, he would some days refuse to dish me food. It became worse when Samora Machel gave me the military uniform he used when he joined the army. Vieira wanted me to join the army in battle; he hated me doing paper work. Fortunately for Vieira, I joined the bush war. By that time, FRELIMO was becoming very strong. Even the BBC news wanted to know what would happen after the war in Mozambique, for they saw that FRELIMO was winning. I joined our army in the bush, located in Gabo Delagado.

During that time I was sent by the FRELIMO leaders to speak to the Portuguese soldiers who were showing signs of defeat, to hear their views on the war.

I was sent to a place called Mueada in Cabo Delgado. First, I met the administrator in Mueda and was welcomed by him and even the soldiers who surrounded the table we were seated at. They told me that they had been looking forward to meet me, because they remembered the time I was trying to escape to the USA. They had followed what I used to say during that time. They believed that I was the right man to pressure FRELIMO to return to the table and find a solution to stop the war. Deep down I knew that they were running out of time. I promised them that I would return. Unfortunately, FRELIMO was gaining momentum and there was no time to keep my promise.

In 1974, FRELIMO conquered the Portuguese. Yes, there was still confusion in the FRELIMO ranks, a mixture of capitalism and communism. The majority were speaking in terms of communism.

Despite all that, there was happiness in our camp when we heard that the Portuguese government in Portugal had decided to give up, because the people in Portugal were complaining that their children were dying. When the Portuguese surrendered it was a time of celebration. The only person who wanted to spoil my joy was Vieira. He was always swearing that my time was coming. I didn’t bother about him for I was more Mozambican than he was, and boasted with an education.

Most of our people went straight to Lorenzo Marques, but I remained in Cabo Delgado. The newly appointed, first black Governor of Cabo Delgado appointed me to be the project co-ordinator in his office. I started teaching people about FRELIMO and its aims, and how it was going to rule Mozambique. The Governor was very happy. People were happy to receive me for they understood what I had to say.

The burden became too heavy, and I decided to start group conferencing, a system known as Groupo Deminizador. To this day people don’t know that I was the founder of Groupo Deminizador for it was later misused, and Armando Guebuza claimed he was the one who started it. With this system I wanted people to make appointments with me if they needed information concerning FRELIMO, for I couldn’t go to many different places at once. I had to divide my time.

Two months after I started the group conferencing, I was summoned to Lorenzo Marques. The job was going well by then. The people complained about me leaving, and the Governor was not happy. I became involved in the transitional government in Lorenzo Marques.

While in Maputo, I met my nephews, Joao and Alexandra, who had helped me during my struggle. They were very happy to see what I had achieved. Sometimes he would sit the whole day talking about the past and laugh.