President Daniel Chapo is in Mbuzini, South Africa, today, Monday, 19 October, attending ceremonies marking the 40th anniversary of the plane crash that killed Samora Moisés Machel, the first President of independent Mozambique.
According to a press release, the Head of State’s participation is a tribute to the memory of Samora Machel, founder of the Republic of independent Mozambique, and an opportunity to preserve the country’s historical memory and pass on the values of independence to younger generations.
The accident occurred on 19 October 1986, when the presidential aircraft, a Tupolev Tu-134A, crashed in the Mbuzini region of South Africa, near the border with Mozambique. Samora Machel was returning from a regional summit held in Mbala, Zambia.
The disaster killed 34 people, including the President and members of the presidential delegation accompanying him.
The ceremonies mark four decades since Samora Machel’s death and reaffirm the importance of preserving the memory of Mozambique’s first President and his legacy in the country’s history of independence.
40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MBUZINI TRAGEDY
The South African Government will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Mbuzini Tragedy, honouring the life and legacy of President Samora Machel, the first President of independent Mozambique, and the 34 other individuals who lost their lives in the tragic plane crash in Mbuzini, Mpumalanga.
The commemoration will take place on 19 October 2026 at the Samora Machel Monument and Museum under the theme:
“Commemorating Lifelong Dedication to the People of Southern Africa: Honouring All Victims of the Mbuzini Tragedy.”
The occasion will pay tribute to the victims and reflect on their enduring legacy and the bonds of solidarity between the people of South Africa and Mozambique.
#MbuziniTragedy40 #SamoraMachel #Mpumalanga #SouthAfricaMozambique
— GCIS_Mpumalanga (@GCISMpumalanga) October 18, 2026
Source: AIM