WHY WE   SAY NO
The issue raised by the Cahora Bassa Dam has figured in the
agendas of the principal international conferences, in the
world press, it is discussed in public meeting, it provokes
popular demonstrations. Big financial interests and reactionary
political forces follow anxiously the developments of events
doing everything possible to make the project a reality; while
the progressive forces try to prevent its realisation.
In this context, it is important to analyse the meaning and the
implications of this project - in particular to find out which
are the reasons determining the different positions on Cahora
Bassa.
This ambitious project would provide Mozambique with all
the electric power she needs for her development, as well as
enabling her to export power to the neighbouring countries.
It would seem then in the interests of the people of Mozambique that the dam be built. And this is the argument that the
forces interested in the project are using to justify their involvement. They argue that the building of the dam will give
work to thousands of Mozambicans both in the building and
in the resulting industrial complex. That it will irrigate thousands of hectares of land, thus allowing hundreds of thousands
of people to benefit from this arable land. That it would
attract foreign investments, thus facilitating the development
of the country. That it will make the Zambezi navigable up
to the Indian Ocean.And that, since independence will come
sooner or later, it is advisable to let the dam be built: because
an independent Mozambique will be in a much better economic situation with the dam than without it.
The Mozambique Liberation Front opposes the construction
of the Cahora Bassa Dam. The previous arguments may appear
reasonable to some one who is not familiar with the economics of colonial exploitation. The arguments do not deceive
the Mozambican people.
Public works projects like Cahora Bassa do not benefit the
Mozambican worker, since the system of labour recruitment
is virtually forced labour. The Portuguese authorities impose
a heavy tax on the people, who have no means to pay it. The
law stipulates that persons who do not pay the tax can be forced to work in public utility projects until the amount of the
tax is worked off. Roads, bridges, government buildings - all
government and semi- government projects are constructed
in this way. The payments for the labour does not go into the
hands of the worker but rather goes to the Portuguese government who pays foreign personnel for their services, the labourer reaps no economic benefit. In fact, his family is subjected to greater economic hardship, since the family's main
breadwinner is unable to provide support. Because of the need
for labour demanded by a project of such proportion ,the
hunt for impressed labour would be intensified.
ONE MILLION WHITE SETTLERS
What about the new arable land made available by the Cahora
Bassa Dam (One and a half million hectares)? The Portuguese
have made no secret of the fact that it will not be Mozambican
people who will settle in that area, but rather white settlers
immigrating from Portugal, South Africa,Rhodesia and Western European countries. In July of this year the Chief-of-Staff
of the Portuguese Armed Forces declared in Mozambique that
"The big solution for the security and progress of the Portuguese Overseas Territories is to settle there one million whites'.'
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