South Africa, Mozambique to remember Machel
15 October 2019
MBOMBELA –33 years on, South Africa and Mozambique will come together to
remember the life of former Mozambique president, Samora Machel and his
compatriots who died in a plane crash in Mbuzini.
President Machel and 33 of his compatriots died when the plane – a Tupolev TU 134A-
3 - they were travelling in crashed in the mountains of Mbuzini near Komatipoort on 19
October 1986. They were returning home following a meeting in Lusaka, Zambia when
the accident happened near the borders of Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa
connects. Since the incident, October is a period set aside to commemorate the tragic
death of the former statesman and his compatriots.
"The commemoration is aimed at acknowledging, celebrating and preserving history
for future generations and also highlighting struggle heroes of the liberation struggle.
Both countries will always commemorate the lives that were lost in the crash," explains
the department's Sibongile Nkosi.
The programme includes a wreath-laying ceremony and a tour of the Samora Machel
Museum. As an honour to his contributions, the Mpumalanga Provincial Government
opened the Samora Machel Museum in Mbuzini, which features a photographic
exhibition based on the socio-political history of Machel and his rise in the political
hierarchy. The site has been developed and upgraded as a contribution of the province
to keep the legacy of Machel and his countrymen alive for future generations. It now
boasts an amphitheatre, ablution block and the museum.