Builders Of Botswana: Samora Machel In Botswana (Part 2)

Samora had a dozen siblings, many of whom died young. Like most black Mozambican families of the era, the Machel’s struggled to survive through farming. 

At the time there were two classification for blacks under Portuguese rule - “assimilado” and “indigena” - based on their education and integration of Portuguese culture. As an indigena Mandhande Machel was forced to accept lower prices for his crops than white farmers; while being compelled to grow labour-intensive cotton, which took time away from the food crops needed for his family.