Chronicle Editor
Samantha Munyurwa, Sunday News Reporter
Bulawayo-based writer Lungisani Ndlovu gives an insight on the liberation struggle and how the young cadres like himself suffered on the hands of colonialists in his upcoming novel titled Ukijana the Liberator.
‘’I have taken all my experiences during the liberation struggle and put them on a paper as a way to educate the younger generation and give a clear picture on how the young warriors suffered for the country to get independence.”
Born in 1963, Ndlovu joined the liberation struggle in 1977 alongside five other girls and one boy. He joined the camp in Botswana and later on, on 7 January 1978 he was flown into Zambia as a young recruit at 15 years old. There he lived at Nyampundu Camp and also lived at JZ 1, 2 and 3 camps respectively. Ndlovu channelled the experiences he encountered during the liberation struggle at a young age through a pen and a paper that has resulted in his novel Ukijana the Liberator.
“I crossed the border into Botswana to join the liberation with five girls and one boy in 1977 and in 1978 I was flown to Zambia as a young recruit and by the time I was just 15 years of age and we lived at Nampundwe camp, JZ1 camp, JZ2 camp and lastly JZ3 camp’’.
Kijana, which is the name of the young children who were involved in the liberation struggle, it is a Russian name meaning young boy and was used as a military name for the boys. For some, the Covid-19 lockdown has been that time needed to unwind, uncover and re-ignite passions that had been buried deep inside with the hustling and bustling of a 9am to 5 pm schedule.
‘’I started to write on the first of the lockdown last year, I took it as an inhouse project, I took my time on this novel and I’m thankful for the time that I got to work on It’’.
Ndlovu hopes to educate people on what transpired exactly and also on what young people did during the liberation struggle drawing from his experiences. Ndlovu in his novel tries to educate his readers on why young people by that time should also be considered as war veterans.
“The kijanas should be declared war heroes because they actually assisted in the war, even the girls who were staying at Mukushi Freedom Camp also contributed hugely on the armed struggle though a lot of them died.’’
His novel also touches on the relations between the Shona and Ndebele, “there was no hostility between the Shona and Ndebele. Tribalism was used to keep people divided for the benefit of the British. I am motivated to tell my story by the President ED Mnangagwa, who loves everyone.”
Ndlovu is a teacher at Selima Primary School and resides in Plumtree.
“The book gives an insight in the lifestyle that we lived during those days and also it reveals that unity did not start in independent Zimbabwe but it was something that was living in the hearts of the Shona, Ndebele, Kalanga, Nambya and all other tribes.’’
Ndlovu has written three novels previously though they have never been published because of lack of funding.
“I would love to publish the books if there is any financial assistance. I was motivated to write about this subject in particular and tell my story because my President gave me an opportunity and everyone to express their feelings and the freedom of expression and would like to educate as well the younger generation and give a clear insight about the liberation struggle.”
Bongani Ndlovu