ABSTRACT
SAMORA MACHEL (President, June 25, 1975-0ctober 19, 1986). Samora M6ises Machel was born in Xilembena, in Gaza Province, on September 29, 1933. He was educated in local mission schools and worked as a nurse. He joined the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) in Tanzania in 1962 and was sent to Algeria for military training. Machel was placed in charge of Frelimo's guerrilla operations in 1964 and became commander in chief of the organization in 1968. He became leader of Frelimo following the assassination of Eduardo Mondlane on February 3, 1969. Mozambique gained its independence from Portugal on
