ANGOLA AND MOZAMBIQUE: The Case against Portugal

Two essays of differing temper but with the same sad and terrible message about the oppression of Africans in Angola and Mozambique. Anders Ehnmark's essay in Angola is perhaps more political in nature, more overtly angry as well; while Per Wastberg takes time to observe the natural beauty of Mozambique against which the familiar dictatorial themes play. Both colonies are characterized by the Portuguese dominion in the interests of the white minority, which means cynical use of schooling, forced labor and virtual apartheid . The Angolans, who rebelled in Luanda, then in Northern Angola in 1961, are more organized politically than the Mozambiques, whose few leaders are in exile. The answer for both colonies must be a precarious independence for which they have not been prepared, but with the West lies the responsibility for hastening it (through boycotting and economic sanctions, says Ehnmark) and supporting it when achieved. Thus the argument here, bolstered by a severe view of fascism at work. Supplementary reading on the situation which gives a good basic idea of what goes on in what are essentially now Portuguese provinces.