Secretarial work
in progress
in Niassa
Some of the Portuguese reactions to these activities indicate
the extent of their demoralisation. For example, last year
they sent a bomb hidden in a parcel to a Portuguese trader
called Manuel, who had a shop in Malica near Vila Cabral,
and whom they suspected of collaboration with FRELIMO.
When he opened the parcel the explosion blasted off both
his hands. The Portuguese are nervous. They have been
forced to resort to this kind of action because they realised
that we were not only active in the rural areas but also
were operating inside Vila Cabral itself, and as they could not
comprehend how this could be possible, they assumed that
one of their own people must be collaborating with us. This
illustrates well the confusion within the Portuguese ranks, but
but it should also be a good lesson for the Portuguese people
themselves, to show that the only solution to their situation
is to fight their government of exploiters and murderers as
we do.
It is possible that when we talk of national reconstruction
people  may think that we are talking about building nice
new houses, etc.   This is not the case.   By national reconstruction we mean primarily an ideological transformation:
the rejection of the backwardness and dedication to a new
life  and society.     Our people are now working together,
not as in the colonial past where each used to work individually.    They handle their own affairs through district,
locality and circle committees and everything they undertake
is  based on a collective assessment of their requirements.
The guerrillas are integrated into this organisation, and all
military   problems   are   solved   together   with   the   people.
The province of Niassa has great possibilities for agriculture
wheat, rice, cotton, etc. Although the Portuguese never
established their organised control over production in Niassa
as in other provinces, nevertheless they still managed to
exploit what little the people did produce. That is why Niassa
produces less in relation to the other provinces. But we are
now starting to create conditions for increased production
of a kind never known before. The people are learning new
systems and methods of cultivation.   They work together in
co-operatives and are introducing new seeds such as cashew
nuts, and several kinds of vegetables. Also, in each district
there are camps where the people cultivate together, the
produce of which is divided partly among themselves, part
is reserved for the guerrillas, and yet another share is kept
for exchange with neighbouring provinces and countries.
At present in Niassa we are producing maize, different kinds
of beans, cassava, sesame, as well as other crops. These
products are sometimes damaged by the enemy who bomb
thQm with napalm. And sometimes in the knowledge of
an imminent offensive we have to harvest before crops are
ripe. 1 am certain that with the passage of time Niassa will
be able to establish simple methods of processing to preserve
food surpluses. It is also possible to introduce cattle into
many places where there is no tsetse fly, but in the meantime
the province is very rich in game. We eat the meat and trade
the skins and also ivory.
It is well known' that Niassa is one of the provinces where
the Portuguese did nothing in the educational field. The maximum that most children learned was to recite the Koran by
heart. But now we have many schools in our zones, including
two boarding schools where children from different areas and
tribes stay and study together. The children cultivate their
own shambas to feed themselves, and this year in western
Niassa they harvested potatoes and cassava. Through working
and living together the children also learn of the different
cultures of other tribes, their dances and their songs, and
perform them in addition to their own.
Finally, the situation with regard to medical cafe was the
same as that for education - the people had nowhere to go
for treatment. But now each locality has its own small clinic
and mobile teams of nurses travel around the villages. In
each sector there is a central hospital. However, one of the
greatest obstacles to efficient medical services is the acute
shortage of medicines, equipment and medical cadres.
Indeed these shortages are experienced in every field, and
we still have a great deal more work to do in Niassa. But
we feel we can justly be proud of what we have achieved
so far.
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