Paulo José Gumane

**Paulo José Gumane** (1918 – around 1977) be Mozambican union activist, politician plus guerrilla leader wey active during de Mozambican War of Independence. He be founding member of de independence movement FRELIMO (Frente de Libertação de Moçambique), but later e break away from dem den join plenty opposition organisations, especially de Zambia-based COREMO (Comite Revolucionário de Moçambique).

Along plus Uria Simango den a number of oda FRELIMO dissidents, Gumane be thought to have been executed sometime during de period 1977–81.

## Life
Gumane ein birth year mostly dey mentioned as 1918; but some Portuguese records talk say e born on 15 January 1922, for Malorane, Magaíça, wey dey Jangamo District insyd Inhambane Province. Ein poppie be Samuel João Gumane, wey be farmer den Methodist deacon before e later turn Catholic, den ein mommie be Mahigo Chicafo Marrengula. After e finish primary school, he go teacher training college for Manhiça, den e teach for government plus mission schools from 1936 go 1942. Later, he lef Mozambique go find work, den dis be where he come encounter nationalist plus left-wing political ideas among de Mozambican people wey dey South Africa den Rhodesia. Insyd South Africa, he join de African National Congress (ANC), later move go de Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC), den he become Cape Town branch secretary for de Laundry and Dry Cleaner Workers’ Union. For 1952 inside, he play big role for de Defiance Campaign wey dey protest apartheid laws. When he come back to Mozambique, Gumane try form farmers’ trade union, but de Portuguese colonial authorities issue arrest warrant give am. One govment friend tip am, so he escape arrest by hide inside ship go Cape Town.

Gumane be one of de people wey start de pro-independence National Democratic Union of Mozambique (UDENAMO) for 1960, den later help form ein successor FRELIMO for 1962, where he become Deputy Secretary-General. But later dem sack am from de group after he clash plenty times over de American connections of FRELIMO ein president, Eduardo Mondlane. After dem try bring UDENAMO back small for Cairo, Gumane plus some other dissidents for 1965 form one new 'radicalist' group wey dem call COREMO (Comité Revolucionário de Moçambique). COREMO, wey first leader be Adelino Gwambe, get main support from China, den e base dey Zambia. From dia, dem dey do small guerrilla attacks across de Mozambique border. China dey give dem training, while weapons plus other supplies pass through de Zambian govment plus de Pan-Africanist Congress to reach COREMO.

From May 12 go May 16, 1966, Gumane call emergency meeting for de party wey make dem sack Gwambe because of "serious money den administrative wahala". Gumane then take over as president of COREMO and carry de group go one new populist political path. To show say COREMO different from FRELIMO, he make rule say dem no go give any special treatment to de children of leaders, dem no go allow any white person join, den dem go keep only small small offices for Cairo, Nairobi, plus Dar es Salaam. He choose strategy wey dey focus on small small targets, send only realistic announcements, den lead de organisation from inside Mozambique itself. Because of dis, many outside observers and supporters praise am. Journalists too dey impressed with Gumane, wey fit speak French, English, Portuguese, Spanish, and some African languages. Many political activists wey dey outside like am well, and Andreas Shipanga talk say people dey call am "Uncle Gumane" with love. Even though COREMO get some early success for Tete Province, later de group start to lose strength because of internal fighting. But still, Gumane get strong support from Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, wey really respect am. COREMO continue to fight from time to time against both Portuguese soldiers and FRELIMO, and dem even make headlines for January 1971 when dem guerrillas kidnap six Portuguese agricultural experts — wey people later believe say dem kill — plus five Mozambicans from de Mussangadzi agricultural station.

From 1971, Chinese government begin put all demma support only behind FRELIMO, so COREMO plus other small opposition groups start vanish from public view. President Kaunda later approve secret military operation wey cross Mozambique border to clear de remaining COREMO fighters. Most of dem top leaders get caught, but Gumane escape go Swaziland, where he still dey organise resistance against FRELIMO.

After de 1974 coup for Portugal make Mozambique ein independence sure, Gumane join other opposition leaders form de National Coalition Party (PCN), wey dey call for free elections after power go change hands. But de Lusaka Accords wey dem sign for September 1974 give power straight to FRELIMO, wey then start move to wipe out all opposition. Dem later invite Gumane plus other PCN leaders go Blantyre for Malawi under de lie say urgent cabinet meeting dey, but dem catch dem for de border and hand dem over to FRELIMO soldiers.

Gumane stay under detention for some years. For 1975, dem show am publicly for Nachingwea, Tanzania, together plus Uria Simango den some other former FRELIMO dissidents. Both of dem read long 'confessions' where dem admit say dem betray de struggle. After dat, dem carry dem go 're-education' camps. Later, all de prisoners vanish, den people believe say dem execute dem between 1977 and 1981, but up till now de Mozambican government never talk wetin really happen to dem.

After Gumane disappear, ein wife Priscilla join de opposition group RENAMO.

## References