Amilcar Cabral, a brilliant socialist, freedom fighter and theoretician. By the time of his assassination in 1973, people of Guinea had more 60% of their land back. His armies skillfully destroyed Portuguese colonial invaders on the battlefields.
"In Africa we are all for the complete liberation of the African continent from the colonial yoke, for we know that colonialism is an instrument of imperialism. So we want to see all manifestations of imperialism totally wiped out on the soil of Africa…"
One of Africa's greatest anti-colonial leaders once said: I prefer to die with my head held high, unshakable faith, and the greatest confidence in the destiny of my country. He came to public eye after a speech he made which offended the Belgian King and his subjects.
Patrice Lumumba was unjustly arrested and imprisoned by state authorities under Mobutu and executed by a firing squad under the command of Katangan authorities. Following his assassination, he was widely seen as a martyr for the wider Pan-African movement. In 2002, Belgium formally apologised for its role in the assassination.
For those who believe that nonviolent and peaceful (colour) revolution is theonly way to free oppressed, then you're in for a rude awakening:
“Prevent the RISE OF A ‘MESSIAH’ who could unify, and electrify, the militant black nationalist movement. Malcolm X might have been such a ‘messiah;’ he is the martyr of the movement today. Martin Luther King, Stokely Carmichael and Elijah Muhammed all aspire to this position. Elijah Muhammed is less of a threat because of his age. King could be a very real contender for this position should he abandon his supposed ‘obedience’ to ‘white, liberal doctrines’ (nonviolence) and embrace black nationalism.” --Declassified FBI documents
Assassinated in 19 February, 1965 by NOI gunmen under circumstances created by Louis Farrakhan and the US government.
I admire Malcolm X not only for his dedication to free his people, but also for his courage. Even if it meant death rather than sell-out or serve the interests of the ruling class.
10 April 1993 - Chris Hani, the SACP secretary-general, is assassinated
On this day twenty five years ago, the South African Communist Party (SACP) secretary-gener
al, Chris Thembisile Hani also known to many as Tshonyane (his clan name), was shot and killed in the driveway of his Boksburg home. Soon after, Janus Walus, a Polish immigrant who came to South Africa in 1982, was arrested in connection with the murder. He was linked to co-conspirator Clive Derby-Lewis, a Conservative Party (CP) Member of Parliament (MP) and his wife Gaye.
During the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) hearing, Walus said: "I did not want to shoot him in the back. I called to Mr Hani. When he turned I fired the first shot into his body. As he turned and fell down, I fired a second shot at his head."
Hani was killed in front of his 15-year-old daughter Nomakhwezi. The death of the leader of the armed wing of the ANC and popular communist leader on the eve of the first democratic elections in South Africa fuelled fears of violence and threatened the transition to democracy.
References:
• Smith J. And Tromp B. (2008), ‘The assassination of Chris Hani’, from IOL, 10 April, [online], Available at www.iol.co.za [Accessed: 12 March 2012]
• Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.
• Coleman, M. (ed)(1998). A Crime Against Humanity: analysing the repression of the apartheid state, Johannesburg: Human Rights Committee, p. 256.
Source: South African History Online - SAHO
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