Books The Morality of Revolution: Reeducation Camps and the Politics of Punishment in Socialist Mozambique, 1968–1990  by Benedito Lus Machava (Author)

The reeducation camps in socialist Mozambique, established shortly after independence in 1974, were internment centers aimed at transforming individuals deemed counterrevolutionary or socially problematic, into ideologically aligned citizens. These camps were part of the Frelimo government's broader efforts to rebuild moral and social order after the colonial era, and to promote socialist ideals.​

Initially, the camps targeted dissidents, reactionaries, and "anti-social" elements such as prostitutes, alcoholics, vagrants, and petty criminals, often without formal judicial processes. Many detainees were arrested arbitrarily, and the system was characterized by a lack of legal safeguards, indefinite detention, and human rights abuses. Camps operated largely as penal institutions, where detainees were expected to undergo ideological reeducation and physical renewal in harsh conditions.​

The program emphasized the creation of a "New Man"—a person who was politically conscious, morally upright, and physically active—intended to reshape Mozambican society according to socialist principles. However, the operation of these camps was often chaotic, ad hoc, and underfunded, with detainees building their own facilities, growing their own food, and overseeing their incarceration with minimal oversight from the state.