Sundaymail Editor
Munyaradzi Huni
AS I was going through my early morning ritual last Thursday, reading WhatsApp messages as well as latest news updates and checking emails, I came across the sad news that the Zimbabwe National Army Commander, Lieutenant General Edzai Absolom Chanyuka Chimonyo had died of cancer.
Although Lt-Gen Chimonyo had told me in May this year that he was not feeling well, his death hit me like a tonne of bricks. While many people knew General Chimonyo, the impeccable soldier, I knew this soft-spoken and affable veteran liberator as my ambassador. “Ambassador extraordinaire”, as I used to call him. And to this he would always respond, “Iwe Huni, ndiri musoldier mhani, izvi zvehuambassador zvakatozowuyawo.”
I first met Lt-Gen Chimonyo in 2014, while I was still the deputy editor at The Sunday Mail and he was Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Tanzania. Together with The Sunday Mail’s photographer, Kudakwashe Hunda, we flew to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to interview that country’s former President Benjamin Mkapa and General Hashim Mbita, the former Executive Secretary of the Organisation of African Unity’s (OAU) Liberation Committee whose main task was to source support for liberation movements as they fought for political independence.
During those days, former President Mkapa had a busy schedule while General Mbita was visibly not feeling well, but Lt-Gen Chimonyo somehow managed to convince them to grant us the interviews. When we got to Dar es Salaam, Lt-Gen Chimonyo briefed us that the former President had a hectic schedule and so he had allocated us only two hours to conduct the interview as he was scheduled to fly out to some foreign engagement.
He informed us that “you are going to face challenges interviewing General Mbita, because he is not well and at times, he is losing his memory.”
What was particularly striking about this brief meeting was that, Lt-Gen Chimonyo treated us like we were some top Government officials and he kept on repeating that “Huni waita zvakanaka coming at this time because these people have a rich history that should be recorded.” Referring to General Mbita, he said; “hana yangu yanga ichigara ichirova kuti he will die with all his rich history.”
I could see a passionate ambassador speaking. A true country representative who knew the importance of recording history for posterity.
The next day, Lt-Gen Chimonyo drove us in his official vehicle as the ambassador and with the Zimbabwean flag pinned on the left bonnet of his monster Toyota Prado, it really felt good, as some Tanzanians occasionally chanted, “Zimbabwe! Zimbabwe!” and waved at us.
“Many Tanzanians still vividly remember the history between Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Tanzanians are different from our other African brothers and sisters. They genuinely love and respect us,” I remember Lt-Gen Chimonyo saying, as we drove to former President Mkapa’s residence.
When we got to the residence, we were given VIP treatment, after which we were ushered into the waiting room.
“This is really good for our country Huni. VaMkapa has a rich history,” he said as we waited for the former president.
After about 15 minutes, former President Mkapa, casually dressed and beaming with a wide smile, walked into the room and welcomed us to his house. He turned to Lt-Gen Chimonyo and the two started talking in Swahili.
After the introduction, the interview started and in about 1 hour 45 minutes, the interview was over.
From the former President’s residence, Lt-Gen Chimonyo drove us to General Mbita’s house which was in some high-density suburb and when we got to the gate, it was clear that this African hero was not being well looked-after.
“Ambassador, you tell me this is where General Mbita is staying?”
I asked as he was parking the car.
“Yes, Huni, this is where he is staying. It’s not good the way we treat our heroes.
“What hurts me most is that this man did not only assist Zimbabwe. He assisted most African countries, but we seem to have forgotten about him,” said Lt-Gen Chimonyo.
We got into the house and after a few minutes, General Mbita wobbled into the dining room. My heart sank.
Yes, Lt-Gen Chimonyo had told me that General Mbita was not well, but I did not think his health had deteriorated so much that it was now difficult for him to walk. To make matters worse, he was fast losing his eyesight and had lost a lot of weight.
After the introductions, General Mbita said: “Ahh, journalists from Zimbabwe, you have remembered me? You think my story is worth coming all the way from Harare?”
Though he spoke jokingly, the words pierced my heart.
Even though General Mbita was clearly not feeling well, he surprised me with his sharp memory. He recalled events that took place way back in the 1970s as if they had just happened yesterday and throughout the interview he threw in jokes that lightened the mood. I conducted this interview using the conversational style and in about two hours, frail as he was, General Mbita left me in possession of his rich history.
After the interview, he forced himself to walk us out of his house and we shook hands as a “thank you and goodbye”. As it turned out, I was the last journalist to interview General Mbita before he passed away in April 2015.
After the interview, Lt-Gen Chimonyo took us for lunch and as we ate the sumptuous Tanzanian food, he kept on reminding me of the importance of recording history. I told him that I also wanted to interview him and he responded; “no problem Huni, but not now. I think for now, you should continue focusing on those comrades who haven’t had the opportunity to share their liberation war narratives. Isu tiri muma office we always get the limelight and so I think it’s important we give a chance to those vari deep down kumamisha.
“They have fascinating stories. I will grant you the interview at the right time.”
When I came back from Tanzania and the interviews with former President Mkapa and General Mbita were published in The Sunday Mail, Lt-Gen Chimonyo called me from Dar es Salaam thanking me for “giving space to this African heroes”. After this, we continued communicating, but not that frequently. I was pleasantly surprised when on December 18, 2017, President Mnangagwa appointed Lt-Gen Chimonyo as the Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army.
It took me about four months to get the opportunity to congratulate him in person and again he promised me; “I haven’t forgotten Huni. I owe you that interview.”
From that day, when I got the opportunity to congratulate him, I think I met him about five more times with the last time being in May when he told me that he was not feeling well. I could see in his eyes that he was in pain.
The vibrant ambassador I had seen in Dar es Salaam in 2014 was no longer the same. Like a brave soldier he promised; “I will be fine, tobva tachiita that interview.”
Hey General! Hey soldier! Hey Ambassador extraordinaire! How come you just went without saying goodbye? What about the interview that you promised me?
Go well Ambassador extraordinaire! Rest in peace General!
To our valued readers, please take note that this week we did not feature Chimurenga Chronicles. The series will be back next week. — Editor.
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