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MBUZINI
The Death of Samora Machel
19 October 1986
Dossier MZ-0017
The Aftermath of Mbuzini: Chissano’s Succession to the Presidency
The South African press, and to some extent Western commentators as well (see the Legum piece presented below), seems to have expected – and perhaps even hoped for – an apocalyptic power struggle after Machel’s death, with the Frelimo government collapsing under the pressure of the conflict with Renamo, economic difficulties, and intra-Party rivalries. In fact, the succession was calm, orderly and relatively unhurried, with Joaquim Chissano elected on 3 November and taking the oath of office three days later on 6 November (see video clip below).
Above: The youthful Joaquim Alberto Chissano (b.1939) in this photograph was 47 years old when he became president of Frelimo and hence president of what was then the República Popular de Moçambique. He was to remain in power for 19 years, until 2005. Chissano played a key role in ending the conflict with Renamo in 1992, and in the transformation of Mozambique into a multi-party state. He was succeeded in 2005 by Armando Guebuza, and is now widely regarded as one of Africa’s respected elder statesman.
Frelimo discourse throughout the period of Machel’s presidency, was replete with references to the need for national unity. The theme runs through speeches, reports, resolutions, slogans and watchwords. It is probably not fanciful to suggest that the constant emphasis on unity in the face of a ruthless enemy may have helped create the conditions in which an orderly succession was possible.
MHN Resources on the Presidential Succession
◊ 23 October 1986
Mozambique at the brink. International Herald Tribune [Paris] (23 October 1986). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 51 kb. A reprinted Washington Post editorial assessing the likely political consequences for US interests in the region of Machel’s death, and arguing that South Africa has an opportunity ‘to demonstrate a modicum of good faith’.
◊ 23 October 1986
Colin Legum. Mozambique without Machel: the crisis facing the Frontline States. Third World Reports [Richmond, Surrey] (23 October 1986), p.1-5. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 280 kb. Legum states baldly that the real question is ‘not who will succeed [Machel], but who will save the country from disintegration into chaos and so increasing the already acute problems facing the African Frontline States’. This was overly apocalyptic; the transfer of power was handled calmly and smoothly (see below).
◊ 24 October 1986
Choosing Machel’s successor. Financial Mail [Johannesburg] (24 October 1986), p.61. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 478 kb. Suggests that strong candidates for the presidency are Joaquim Chissano, Mário Machungo and Alberto Chipande.
◊ 24 October 1986
New odds now Machel’s gone. Financial Mail [Johannesburg] (24 October 1986). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 232 kb. A long report, arguing on the basis of SADF reports on the military situation, that Frelimo is about to lose power and that Machel’s death is likely to accelerate the process.
◊ 24 October 1986
Nkomati back in balance. Star [Johannesburg] (24 October 1986). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 91 kb. South African academic foreign policy analyst John Barratt of the SAIIA says that Machel’s death has thrown the Nkomati Accord’s future into doubt; the article also quotes pro-Renamo academic André Thomashausen of UNISA, and AIM’s Paul Fauvet.
◊ 24 October 1986
Alan Cowell. Mozambique future: doubts raised. New York Times [New York] (24 October 1986). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 693 kb. MHN’s copy of this clipping is incomplete, with the bottom paragraphs torn off.
◊ 26 October 1986
After Machel. Rapport [Cape Town] (26 October 1986). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 38 kb. English summary of an article in the Afrikaans Sunday paper Rapport.
◊ 26 October 1986
John D’Oliveira. Next few days could be crucial. Sunday Star [Johannesburg] (26 October 1986). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 541 kb.
◊ 26 October 1986
David Jackson. The long and winding road to succession. Sunday Times [Johannesburg] (26 October 1986). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 1.1 Mb. Chissano, Marcelino, Machungo and Guebuza are the front-runners to succeed Machel, says Jackson.
◊ 26 October 1986
José Santa Rita. The men most likely to succeed. Sunday Star [Johannesburg] (26 October 1986). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 172 kb. Another speculative South African article on who is most likely to emerge as the next president.
◊ 29 October 1986
Maputo’s rebels to fight Harare. International Herald Tribune [Paris] (29 October 1986). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 523 kb.
◊ 29 October 1986
Rita McWilliams. Rebels offer truce to Mozambique, challenge Zimbabwe. Washington Times [Washington DC] (29 October 1986). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 111 kb.
◊ 31 October 1986-5 November 1986
Philip van Niekerk. Collapse? Maputo struck me as calmer than Jo’burg. Weekly Mail [Johannesburg] (31 October 1986-5 November 1986). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 320 kb. A corrective account of the situation in Maputo, contrasted to other reports of impending chaos in South African newspapers at the time.
◊ 4 November 1986
Pretoria links landmine to Maputo and ANC. Guardian [London] (4 November 1986). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 543 kb. In an incident that brought matters round to full circle, the SADF announces that a landmine in the eastern Transvaal killed a white solder on 3 November, and that ANC operatives working out of Mozambique are responsible. This presents Chissano with his first test as the new president.
Below: Joaquim Chissano takes the oath of office on Thursday, 6 November 1986, in a calm and orderly succession process.
◊ 4 November 1986
Paul Fauvet. Chissano elected as Mozambique leader. Guardian [London] (4 November 1986). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 121 kb. The Frelimo Central Committee elected Joaquim Chissano, the long-serving foreign minister, as president of the party on Monday 3 November 1986 in an calm and orderly succession process.
◊ 11 November 1986
Caroline Allen. Rebels in Mozambique aim to split country. Washington Times [Washington DC] (11 November 1986). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 228 kb.