# Samora Machel

_1st President of Mozambique (1933–1986)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/samora-machel
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Samora Moisés Machel was a Mozambican politician and revolutionary who served as the first President of Mozambique from the country's independence in 1975 until his death in the 1986 Mozambican Tupolev Tu-134 plane crash which killed 34 people, including several Mozambican ministers and government officials. Machel was a socialist in the tradition of Marxism–Leninism.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 29 September 1933 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219918#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Gaza Province ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219918#P19))
- **Died:** 19 October 1986 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219918#P570))
- **Place of death:** Mbuzini ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219918#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Portugal; Mozambique ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219918#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219918#P106))
- **Political party:** FRELIMO ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219918#P102))
- **Education:** Waterford Kamhlaba ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219918#P69))
- **Spouse:** Graça Machel; Josina Machel ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219918#P26))
- **Positions held:** President of Mozambique (25 June 1975 – 19 October 1986) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219918#P39))
- **Awards:** Lenin Peace Prize; Order of José Martí; Order of Playa Girón; Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry; Order of the National Flag; Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Order of Eduardo Mondlane, 1st class ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219918#P166))

## Questions

**When was Samora Machel born?**  
Samora Machel was born on 29 September 1933 in Gaza Province.

**What positions has Samora Machel held?**  
Positions held by Samora Machel include: President of Mozambique (1975–1986).

**Where did Samora Machel study?**  
Samora Machel was educated at Waterford Kamhlaba.

## Related

- [Armando Guebuza](https://diginpl.com/people/armando-guebuza)
- [Joaquim Chissano](https://diginpl.com/people/joaquim-chissano)
- [Filipe Nyusi](https://diginpl.com/people/filipe-nyusi)
- [Daniel Chapo](https://diginpl.com/people/daniel-chapo)
- [António Egas Moniz](https://diginpl.com/people/antonio-egas-moniz)
- [Lídia Pereira](https://diginpl.com/people/lidia-pereira)
- [Manuel Pinto da Costa](https://diginpl.com/people/manuel-pinto-da-costa)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Samora Machel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samora_Machel) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q219918](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219918) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Samora Moises Machel detail DF-SC-88-01383.jpg by Department of Defense. American Forces Information Service. Defense Visual Information Center. 1994 (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Samora_Moises_Machel_detail_DF-SC-88-01383.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Samora Machel, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Samora Moises Machel detail DF-SC-88-01383.jpg — Department of Defense. American Forces Information Service. Defense Visual Information Center. 1994, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Samora Machel". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/samora-machel. Retrieved 6 November 2026.