Ressano Garcia (L 8)

Name: Ressano Garcia

Ressano Garcia is a town near the border between South Africa and Mozambique.
Both road and rail cross the border here.

In 1500 the Portuguese established a string of forts and trading posts up and down the coast, starting with present day Isla de Mozambique (at that time simply known as Mozambique and where the country gets its modern name), where the Portuguese plied the spice and slave routes from Mozambique up until 1891.

Over the last 1000 years Moçambique has been the focus of interest for many races. The strategic location, rich minerals, gold and ivory made Moçambique, over the centuries, an important trading point

The primitive people of Mozambique were the Bosquimanes, nomadic, hunter-gatherers. Between 200 and 300 AC the Bantu people arriving from the northern big lakes, established themselves along the Moçambique coast line. The Bantus brought in agricultural skills as well as knowledge of iron working

During the 13th Century, the Arab traders settled along the East Coast attracted by the gold mines. They, the Swahili's, introduced the Islamic culture. The Indians and Chinese were also actively trading along this coast line

In February 1497 the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrived at Ilha de Moçambique (Moçambique Island, today connected to the main land by a causeway) on his way to India. And in 1507 a permanent settlement started on the Island

During this period Portugal tried to take control of the gold trade

In the 16th Century the Dutch made failed attempts to occupy the Island

Portuguese farmers were encouraged to settle and develop further inland, expanding the occupied territory. By mid 16th century there was an active ivory and gold trade was

In 1752 Moçambique was annexed as a Portuguese colony

Between 1700s and 1800s the slave trade became a major activity, over 1 million slaves were transported to Brazil, Reunion and Mauritius

The "Prazo" system was introduced as an attempt to gain more control over the colony, to promote agricultural and economic development. It consisted on a contract granting land (Prazos) to Portuguese women over three generation (as long as they were married to Portuguese men). The Prazeiros (owners of Prazos) became the elite of the country exerting great control. Currently a similar system is being perpetuated by the Government elite since private property ownership is not allowed - this has an extremely negative effect on the inflow of much needed capital into the country.

In 1871 slavery is abolished and Ilha de Moçambique becomes a depot for free slaves

In 1878 Portugal conceded some of the Northern territory for trading to British and German companies as a way to avoid invasion from those countries. The European companies introduced enforced labour "Chibalo" on construction of roads and farming

One year later the Lourenço Marquez treaty was signed between Britain and Portugal. The construction of the railway linking Lourenço Marquez to Johannesburg was officially completed in January 1895. At this time the Capital was moved from Ilha de Moçambique to Lourenço Marquez, where most political and economic activities are now being carried out

In 1926 Antonio Oliveira Salazar took over Portugal in a fascist coup. For Moçambique this again meant forced labour to build the railways linking the main ports to the main cities as well as mines, and farming activities. Salazar also introduced a strict racist regime, where education was no longer granted to the population, and the Africans were forbidden to initiate any kind of business.

The Catholic Church came in to provide basic education to the African people but under strict conditions, which included abandoning traditional beliefs and culture, this was for many the only way to avoid forced labour (they were called the, 'Assimilados' or non-indigenous). The great majority of the African population were forced into hard labour. Cities and developed areas were reserved for white people and a few privileged, 'Assimilados'

Nationalist feelings were fast developing by the educated few and intellectuals

In June 1960, during a peaceful protest at Mueda in Northern Moçambique, the Portuguese opened fire on the crowd. This event is remembered yearly as "The massacre of Mueda". This was the start of the Moçambique liberation movement

Frelimo Party (Frente de Liberacao Moçambicana - Liberation Front) was created and had Eduardo Chivambu Mondlane as the first president. The purpose was to conquer complete independence from Portugal

In 1969 Eduardo Mondlane was assassinated by a letter bomb. Samora Michel as military commander took over with strong Marxist views. Portugal was struggling to keep hands over the colony and slowly lost control. With the overthrow of Salazar's regime, Portugal gave in, on 7th September 1974 Portugal agreed on a transition of government to Frelimo

The Independent People's republic of Moçambique was then proclaimed

There was no gradual transition, the Portuguese left in a hurry leaving the country in a trap set for disaster. Radical and unrealistic social changes were fast implemented with some external help. By 1983 the country's economy was in a shambles

Renamo (Resistência Nacional de Moçambique - Moçambique National Resistance) was created in the 1970s by external forces. From 1976 onwards its main purpose was the destruction of social economical structures and destabilization of the government. Recruits were forced to join, whilst roads, bridges and railways were destroyed in the process together with schools and hospitals. Mmany were killed and atrocities were committed on both sides of the conflict. Until 1992 the country was caught up in this brutal civil war, that pitted brother against brother

In 1983 drought and famine forced the Frelimo movement to turn to western aid

In 1984 the Nkomati Accord was signed between Mozambique and South Africa(S.A.) The deal was for S.A. to withdraw all support for Renamo and in exchange Moçambique would reject the ANC and allow South African Investment into the country. This Accord was not really successful, as S.A. did not withdraw their support for Renamo as promised .

Two years later Samora Machel died in a plane crash and was replaced by Joaquim Chissano

The collapse of the USSR and the newly elected South African president F.W. DeKlerk turned the situation against Renamo

The peace agreement came in October 1992, followed by the UN monitoring disarmament and demobilization campaign. The first National Elections was held in 1994

Since then Mozambique has greatly developed towards peace and democracy. Showing a much greater political stability with the Frelimo party winning another term in 2004


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