Geography & History Notes | KCSE, NECTA, ZIMSEC & GCSE

  Amilcar Cabral was an agronomist and he was born in Cape Verde, studied and worked in Lisbon and later returned to offer leadership in Guinea Bissau. He contributed to the struggle in the following ways; Amilcar Cabral got involved in agricultural census with the colonial government. This exposed him to the problems of his people hence condemned the Portuguese. Amilcar mobilized the masses to form PAIGC that launched an armed struggle in 1963 against the Portuguese imperialists. Amilcar established an external base for PAIGC in Guinea Conakry to coordinate the activities of Africans under the support of Sekou Toure. Amilcar worked with the working class and petty traders to get financial and moral support to weaken the Portuguese policies. Amilcar solicited for support from the communist countries like USSR, China, Cuba, and Czechoslovakia. These responded financially and militarily to strengthen African cause for independence. Amilcar also sent members of PAIGC youth wing to USS...

  The formation of Liberation movements against the Portuguese led to the independence of these countries. These movements included PAIGC set up in 1954, MPLA in 1956 and FRELIMO established in 1962. They resorted to use of military approach against the Portuguese leading to their eventual independence. The effective military strategies adopted by the Liberation movements led to the success of Africans. The Liberation movements always attacked the Portuguese simultaneously in several places, they used surprise attacks and ambushes which weakened the Portuguese. The Liberation Movements carried out mass mobilization and recruitment. Thousands of Africans joined the struggle, the massive recruitment strengthened the African struggles to outmatch Portuguese soldiers. The role of women enlisted in the struggle led to the success of the Liberation movements. The Liberation movements recruited women in the military, others acted as nurses for the wounded soldiers, and gave espionage info...