Machelism

Machelism is the term used in Mozambique to refer to the thoughts expressed by Samora Machel, President of Mozambique after the country's independence in 1975 until his death in 1986. This doctrine has its origins in Marxism-Leninism and Soviet communism, which was the official ideology of the FRELIMO Party during the Machel government.^[1]

Description

Like most Marxist thoughts, Machelism would defend state property, as well as a policy based on democratic centralism and the establishment of a socialist state in Mozambique, seeking literacy and the eradication of poverty. However, Machel's variant also manifests a strongly nationalist inclination, coming from the long war of independence that FRELIMO faced, and more vaguely pan-Africanist. It firmly rejects tribalism or African traditionalism, and seeks the creation and progressive establishment of its own Mozambican national identity, this being expressed in a phrase by Machel: "For the nation to live, the tribe must die."^[2]

The term is usually used by detractors of Marxism-Leninism, such as Afonso Dhlakama, leader of the opposition RENAMO; as well as by traditional Marxists who reject Machel's nationalist variant; or by the social democratic members of FRELIMO identified with his successor, Joaquim Chissano, who are against excessive leftism in the party. Therefore, the name machelismo or machelista is considered to have a rather derogatory connotation, and is little used by Machel's followers.^[3]