\S
Portuguese   Colonisation   of
::::_: ;:::_:.   V zc^::^:^
by David iMabunda
PORTUGAL'S presence in
Africa is said to be a "civilizing
mission" designed to convert
Africans into Portuguese citizens.
The Portuguese boast that there is
no racial problem in Mozambique
or any other Portuguese possessions
or "over-seas provinces" as they
prefer to call them. This is completely
unfounded. Portugal's version of
apartheid is based on the doctrine
that Africans are literally children
and as such are incapable of looking
after their own vital interests.
Hence the Government of Portugal
assumes the responsibility of protecting and guiding Africans toward
maturity of mind and soul.
Portuguese 1 a w envisages two
classes of inhabitants: Portuguese
citizens enjoying full citizenship
rights and governed in accordance
with Portuguese common law, and
the "natives" governed by a complex
of controls known as the
"INDIGENATO"
"Assimilados"
The process of conversion of assimilation, as it is officially known was
implemented in 19 17, aimed at
dividing Africans into two groups,
the so-called ASSIMILADOS
(CIVILIZED AFRICANS) and the
INDIGENAS (UNCIVILISED
AFRICANS) in order to prevent political influence by those Africans w:ho
accidentally obtained some education. The process of conversion,
requires the African to show that
he can read, write and speak Portuguese fluently, has .severed all tribal
connections, adopted the habits and
customs proposed for the application
of the Portuguese common law and
has a suitable occupation, professional, industrial or commercial to
provide "him with stable means of
living.
It is, however, only an individual
of African extraction who can be an
indigena not a Portuguese European,
no matter how illiterate he may be.
L
;
m
:
David Mabunda
Racial discrimination as practised by
Portugal is no doubt subtle.
The announcement made by
Portugal's so-called Minister of
"Overseas Provinces," Dr. Adriano
Morreira on the August 28, 19 6 1
about "Political Equality for Portuguese Africans" was o n 1 y a bluff
intended to deceive African Independent States, the United Nations and
all peace-loving countries in the
world. In practice even assimilados
do not enjoy the facilities of
Portuguese citizenship, for they do
not have the means to acquire them.
Having established two classes
of Africans, the Portuguese have
taken systematic steps to keep down
and exploit one class, the indigenas.
Africans are still denied the right
of assembly whether for political,
cultural or trade union purposes
and the exploitation of b o t h soil
and man is even more extreme.
Today the basic legal vehicle of
the indigenato is the statute of the
Portuguese Africans of the colony
(May 1954). According to this law,
individuals of the African origin or
their descendents who were born or
habitually reside in the said province
(Mozambique) and who do not yet
possess the learning and the social
and individual habits presupposed
for the integral application of the
public and private law of Portuguese
citizens, are considered • to be
indigenas.
Native Workers Regimented
For the administration of the
indigenas Mozambique is divided
into URBANISED DISTRICTS.
Each of these administrative units is
governed by an administrator assisted by a few CHIEFS OF POST.
Within the administrative corps the
highest rank held by African is that
of interpreter. Within his district the
adminisrator executes virtually all
police and judicial functions. He has
the power to accuse, apprehend, try
and sentence Africans as he pleases.
The REGULATION OF
"NATIVE" WORKER of 1944 is
still the chief legal instrument for
maintaining the urban African in a
condition of docility and servitude.
With its striking resemblance to similar laws in the settler Republic of
South Africa, the regulamento has its
roots deep in medieval philosophies.
According to the preamble of the
regulamento the increasing influx of
indigenas to the urban centres in
search of work has created a problem
of social indiscipline whose resolution requires vigorous supervision
over the activities of the African
population in these centres, not
only to prevent vagabondage and
criminality but also to correct the
bad conduct of domestic servants
and. other workers.
7T" july» 1962 23