UNITA 1976
Source: The Workers’ Advocate [U.S.] Volume 6, Number 3, March 15, 1976;
Extracted from The Workers’ Advocate for the MIA Africa pages: by Paul Saba.
Comrade Chitunda:
The first thing to realise is that what MPLA is calling a "military victory" is no real victory at all. To begin with, it is Soviet-backed Cuban and other foreign invaders that are making the military manoeuvres in Angola and how can this be equated with an MPLA victory? UNITA leadership anticipated the possibility of a large-scale invasion and has been making preparations for the last several months. The cities which Cuban-MPLA forces have reported capturing are, in most cases, no longer cities but ghost towns. Let us take the example of Huambo as a case in point. UNITA fighters held out under a barrage of multiple rocket launchers attacking for over a week. These rocket launchers had a devastating effect on the town and did a lot of destruction. Finally, the military command decided it was time to withdraw from the city and evacuation operations began. By the time Cuban-MPLA forces entered Huambo the urban population had gone from roughly 80,000 to less than 2,000 occupants! The people, under UNITA's leadership, had melted into the countryside and MPLA-Cuban forces took over an empty city. This situation was the same in many of the other towns which Cuban-MPLA forces have "captured".
We have foreseen this offensive and UNITA strategy now is to return to exclusive guerilla campaigns and consolidate our bases in the rural countryside among the large majority of the population -- the peasant masses. Here, the situation has not changed in any fundamental way. UNITA still holds political power in 50% of the land area of Angola and controls 60% of the population. The fact that empty cities have been taken over has not changed this basic situation. Even in those towns which Cuban-MPLA forces have occupied, to speak of their "controlling" them is not really accurate. The invaders are mainly trying to secure the main transportation arteries, highways, etc. and have not established any administrative apparatus in these towns.
I just heard Mr. Castro say that he is going to send 40,000 Cubans to Angola. He may have in mind sending them as settlers to occupy these empty towns! The invaders are going to face real problems for production and food supplies. This is unlike UNITA which has no problems with food supplies, since we enjoy the support of' the basic peasant masses.
So when MPLA speaks of a victory it must be seen in this light. Similarly, their recognition internationally cannot change the basic situation inside the country. We remember that for 20 years it was Chiang Kai-shek who "represented" the Chinese people in the UN and in other places after the government of the People's Republic of China was established. The recognition of MPLA is a paper-recognition, and has come about as a result of the massive propaganda campaign and pressure by the two superpowers and by a big campaign by the Soviet Union in particular to pressure the OAU into recognising MPLA. We were not surprised by this development and our position is clear: We will not be bullied by anyone!
On the international front there are other developments which give the lie to alleged UNITA- South African cooperation. It can be seen by one and all that it is MPLA and South Africa which are showing great willingness to negotiate. This is a first in the history of African liberation movements that negotiation in this way takes place between the South African fascists and MPLA. This is becoming a very big exposure of the MPLA. It is also clear now that Cuban troops are not in any way engaging the South African troops. They are not heading south to Azania, nor are they involved with South African troops in Namibia or anywhere else. The Soviet social- imperialists have sent Cuban mercenaries to 'get UNITA' and this is another big exposure.
Regarding alleged UNITA atrocities, Comrade Chitunda said:
These press reports of UNITA atrocities and mass killings are absolute lies. To begin with, UNITA has neither motive nor reason to be killing any of the Angolan people. Those soldiers that have been captured are being properly treated and can be visited at any time by an international agency to verify it. These horror stories are being promoted by the imperialist press with a two-fold aim: to turn international public opinion against UNITA and to try and turn the Angolan people against UNITA. But our people will never believe these lies. If you want to see atrocities, visit Cuban-MPLA headquarters in Luanda -- that is where the torture houses are and we are being accused by the enemy of the things he himself is doing.
On the current military situation, Comrade Chitunda said:
Our present strategy is to consolidate our liberated areas in the countryside. We have prepared the fighters and the masses for a protracted struggle which we know will last for months and quite possibly a number of years. We are not following the strategy of trying to re-capture towns and cities at the present time. They do not have the military importance. Rather, we are deploying our 30,000 guerrilla fighters in the following fashion. Some 12,000 troops are now organised and dispersed throughout the country in guerrilla fashion as shock troops. There is no positional warfare but rather attacks on the enemy troops and enemy-held towns. The remainder of our troops are throughout the countryside -- organised as part of the People's Defense Guards in the liberated areas or carrying out political work amongst the population. We are well-equipped for this kind of guerilla warfare and our light weapons are ideal and in good supply for this kind of battle. Even before the evacuation of Huambo by our UNITA Command, our commanders and our President had prepared the underground headquarters. We were not caught by surprise on any front.
At present we are carrying out attacks on the enemy positions. Just a few days ago there were successful attacks and more Cuban soldiers were captured. Just recently also, we intercepted a large column of supplies going from Huambo to a location near Serpa Pinto, which were intended for the Cuban troops. Interestingly, although UNITA is not in Serpa Pinto, the Cuban invaders have not been able to enter that town yet because of the resistance of the local population.
So as you can see this "victory" and "occupation" which the Soviet-backed Cuban mercenaries and MPLA are claiming is a most superficial thing and cannot for one moment negate our struggle for total independence and victory. Our people are in good condition, and fighting spirit and morale is just as high as ever. We will never be corrupted and will fight on until complete victory. - end -