Against this negative trend, however, one must point out
a number of gains which have been achieved in Africa during
the same three-year period. We are referring to the evergrowing involvement of the African Liberation Committee in
the struggle for the liberation of Southern Africa; which
has increased its membership from 9 to 11, including Zambia,
a country which is in a pivotal position in the struggle
against the two main redouts of white racism- Rhodesia and
South Africa. It seems clear to us that all of Africa, regardless of differences in the economic and political positions of the various states, is committed -to the. present
programme of the liberation struggle in Southern Africa. The
Mozambican people have always been blessed with having two
of the most revolutionary countries in Africa as their neighbours-Zambia and Tanzania. Tanzania has never had any problems as to the role she should play in the liberation of
Africa, for, inspite of her material difficulties, she has
always known how to interpret her policies in a manner that
has favoured and supported the struggle . This revolutionary
attitude reached a high point in the Arusha Declaration,
which we wholeheartedly support," as it came at a crucial
time in our struggle. This year the Tanzanian government
announced that she was ready to fight side by side with her
Mozambican brothers if it were felt necessary, but that the
government of Tanzania believes that the role that she is
so far playing is sufficient and that the Mozambican people
themselves are capable of taking care of the enemy. Zambia
has for some time had to take into consideration a number
of material problems which made it difficult for her to translate into practical terms her determination for supporting
the liberation struggle. Since her independence less than
three years ago, Zambia has shown that she means what she
sayss she has been working hard to find solutions to her
geographic situation while at the same time doing everything
possible to support the struggle. There are other African
states which have also done much more than giving support
through the multi-lateral channel of the African Liberation
Committee, these are, among others, Algeria, the United Arab
Republic, and Tunisia. These African states inspite of the
physical distance which separates us, have no difficulty in
feeling the urge for more than one way of aiding the struggle
of the people of Mozambique.
During the last three years there have been other kinds of
programmes for which the Mozambican people sought and received support. These include education, social welfare and
health.In the educational sphere FRELIMO has developed a
system which includes primary, secondary, technical, profes
sional and political training. We have also established
with overseas educational institutions which, through