3.
have on our side the workers1 movementsof the imperialist countries and
particularly those of Portugal herself, which are also struggling against
"exploitation.  All of these factors will combine to guarantee a favourable outcome for our liberation struggle.
We do not announce a rapid,victory.  But we affirm the certainty of victory.
* -  * ■  *  *  #   *  *  *  *   *  *
Sixteenth of June - COMMEMORATION
OF THE MASSACRE OF MUEDA;
On the 16th of June 1960, in Mueda, Cabo Delgado,Mozambique, more
than 500 Mozambicans were massacred by the Portuguese troops. Their otily
crime was that they had asked for the Independence•6?'their country.' .
The events which preceded the massacre are well known.
The people of.Mueda revolted against colonial domination and decided;
to demand their independence from the Portuguese. They sent-a delegation
composed of Brothers FAUSTINO VANOMBA, KIBIRITI and MODESTA to the Administration of Mueda to explain the grievances of the people.  The Administrator was told that the people wanted independence because they could .-..,.
no longer, accept- their miserable situation under Portuguese colonialism* ;:
Comrade Faustina;Vanomba openly denounced the forced labour which is practiced on,a large-scale in Mozambique, saying:  "In the;sisal plantation of
Panga, for example, a man works for sixv months and; gets only a blanket,-,
shorts and seventy shillings, out of which he has to pay forty shillings
for taxes. He retains only thirty shillings, that is five shillings per
month."  He pointed out the absolute lack of schools and roads and the
policy of compulsory cultivation of cotton which was seriously prejudicial
to the good of the Mozambican people, the insolence of the colonists who
used to steal with impunity chickens, pigs, goats and other foodstuffs belonging to the people and who grabbed the fertile lands of the Mozambicans
expelling them to arid lands.  "In order to put an end to this situation,
our people want independence", Comrade Vanomba told the Administrator.
The Administrator reported . this occurance to the Governor of the
so-called District of Cabo Delgado.  They both studied the situation and
correctly interpreted the people's demand as a serious manifestation of
the awakening of Mozambican nationalism. They then decid-ed. to crush that
movement which was being born.  To that end, the Portuguese conceived of y a)
Machiavellian plan.  They invited the people to meet at the administrative
headquarters at Mueda on the 16th of June, with assurances that they were
going to give independence to Mozambique ih a solemn.act presided at by
the Governor of Cabo Delgado,for which the people should all be present.
They insisted on the presence of*Camrades FAUSTINO VANOMBA, KIBIRITI and
MODESTA, saying, that the government of the country would be delivered to
them. * •' '■'■
Unaware of the trap, the people went.