Chronicle Editor
TODAY we round-up our interview with Dr Peeps Gonde pseudonym Cde Philip Nkomani. In a series of interviews Dr Gonde, now an academic and senior proctor at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) in Bulawayo spoke about how he abandoned his studies as a Form Two pupil at Thekwane Mission in Bulilima District in Matabeleland South Province and walked into Botswana en route to join the armed struggle in Zambia.
He then went on to tell our Assistant Editor Mkhululi Sibanda (MS) about his training at Mwembeshi and Kohima in Zambia. He is one of the combatants who survived the callous bombing of the Freedom Camp (FC) in Zambia on 19 October 1978.
FC was bombed on the same day as the cantonment of the female combatants, Mkushi. Later on Dr Gonde was deployed to Maheba and then Solwezi where he became an instructor.
As he concludes his narration Dr Gonde speaks about the ceasefire period and deployment in the then newly created Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA).
MS: Having worked as an instructor where did you go after the announcement of the ceasefire?
Dr Gonde: I moved to Papa Assembly Point and later on to Romeo near Chinhoyi that is in Mashonaland West Province. When the 1980 election results were announced we were at Romeo.
It was a difficult time because we were naturally disappointed that Zapu had not won. Comrades expressed grief in different forms with some even openly crying. It took the wise words and political maturity of Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo to comfort the comrades as he pointed out that although Zapu had not won the election, what was important was that as Zimbabweans we had achieved the objectives of the armed struggle, which was to attain the black majority rule. He said that is what we had fought for and should take the results as they were because that was the national outcome.
MS: Then take us through your integration into the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA).
Dr Gonde: We moved to Guinea Fowl near Gweru with other ZPRA comrades such as now late National Hero, General Sibusiso Busi (SB) Moyo, Gwanzura who was known as Chrispen Chaminorwa, Joubert, Dililo, Matambanadzo.
The late Col Samson Mpabanga intimated to us that we were destined for ranks of Corporal to Sergeant Major to which we revolted against. We were familiar with Military Ranks in conventional settings premised on our officer cadet training at Kohima Military Academy.
Subsequently, our case was referred to higher echelons of the integration process.
Then the now late Colonel Eddie Sigoge, who was one of the senior commanders of ZPRA came from the Army Headquarters and took us to the Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA) in Gweru where we were taken through the standardization course.
Most of us attained ranks of Captain. I was then deployed to 2:2 Infantry Battalion in Mudzi where the battalion commander was the now former Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) Director-General, Happyton Bonyongwe. He was deputized by Cde George Jubane. Then towards the end of 1981, I attended a platoon commanders course which I passed very well and after that posted back to the Zimbabwe Military Academy as course officers with my counterpart from ZANLA being now General Martin Chedondo.
I met Bonang Fakazi Dube at ZMA and we became friends up to date. I was at the ZMA for three months before being moved to 3 Brigade in Mutare where the commander was Brigadier Gilchrist who had been in the Rhodesian Army. In 1982 the now late General Vitalis Fox Zvinavashe took over the command of 3 Brigade.
I was appointed General Staff Officer Grade 3, responsible for training in the Brigade area of responsi-bility; the extant from Middle Sabi to beyond Nyanga. One day Gen Zvinavashe called me to his office and ordered me to form a football team.
While playing Division Two Football, our inaugural players included Captain Ncube, Lt Mariga, Dumisani Nkomo, Dave Mathe, who was our Number 5, myself as number 8, and Mariga the number 9. We still are good friends with Mathe, and frequently reminisce our football career.
MS: What was the name of the team?
Dr Gonde: We called the team Buffalos after the insignia of the 3 Brigade. As it’s common knowledge now the team was to be in the coming years to rise and compete in the premier league. We had a formidable team as we later on recruited from established clubs.
I was also intermittently deployed on external operational missions in Mozambique during my posting at HQ 3 Brigade. We played social soccer matches with our national and Black Rhinos football legend Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa at the time he was at 3 Brigade.
However, in 1988 I left 3 Brigade for the Zimbabwe Staff College in Harare as I became a member of the Directing Staff.
That is when I re-united with my friends Gen (Rtd) Dr Ambassador Thando Madzwamuse and Col Chirimuuta (Legal Practitioner).
Chirimuuta was one of if not the most intelligent officers of the ZNA. He always was the best student, we never competed for first position when we attended courses with him. It was a given, we battled for second position onwards. The two literally forced me to go back to school and carry on with my education. They would say I was lucky that they chose me to be their friend.
I wrote O-levels, passed, went to A-level did the same and then enrolled for a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Computer Science with the National University of Science and Technology (Nust). I owe all academic successes to General Madzwamuse (Rtd) and Col Chirimuuta; my very good friends. I was promoted in the army, first to a Major and then to Lt-Colonel. I also got promoted to be the Director of the ZNA Computing Department. I went back to Nust and continued with my studies up to PhD.
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