Online Reporter
Andile Tshuma, Features Writer
As Zimbabwe prepares to mark its 46th Independence anniversary in Maphisa, memories return to the brave sons and daughters who walked the same rugged terrain, waged a bitter armed struggle and paid the ultimate price for the country’s freedom.
Among them is the late guerilla fighter, Cde William Ncube whose wartime exploits in Matabeleland South Province remain etched in the history of the liberation struggle.
Cde Ncube, who died in 2021 after succumbing to Covid-19, was one of the few surviving fighters of the fierce Tjewondo Battle in Kezi in 1978, where Zipra forces inflicted heavy losses on Rhodesian troops.
Operating under the pseudonym Cde Lovemore Mpofu, he was part of a small but highly mobile unit under the Southern Front 1, tasked with opening routes for recruits, weakening enemy operations and mobilising communities in districts such as Gwanda, Kezi, Mangwe and Gwanda.
Their mission was as complex as it was dangerous; to clear pathways for thousands of young Zimbabweans crossing into Botswana to join the armed struggle, while simultaneously engaging the enemy through ambushes and strategic operations.
The Tjewondo Battle stands out as one of the most defining moments of Cde Ncube’s military life. In a swift and well-coordinated attack alongside fellow comrades, including regional commander Cde Adam Dube, also known as Cde Mphini, the unit overwhelmed Rhodesian forces in a confrontation that lasted only minutes but left a lasting impact.
Villagers later recounted how the encounter resulted in significant enemy casualties, although it also triggered brutal reprisals on civilians, with homesteads destroyed and innocent people assaulted.
For Cde Ncube, the war was not only fought on the battlefield but also within communities, where he helped mobilise and recruit young people, sometimes escorting entire groups across the border to Botswana under the constant threat of enemy detection.
Fellow comrades in the ruling party Zanu-PF and other ex-ZPRA forces have called on Zimbabweans to continue remembering the sacrifices of liberation fighters who fought to deliver independence.
“Independence Day celebrations must be revered and respected. We celebrate 18 April now based on the sacrifices of many dear comrades who chose to forego comforts, school, work and other life’s dear moments to go and fight and it is rather disheartening to see people, young and old denigrating such a significant day.
“It is also disappointing to see people disrespecting war veterans despite their immeasurable sacrifices. That should stop as people must remember where we are coming from and how we got to have what we have now. It did not just happen, people went to the bush, lives were lost, families grieved,” said former Cabinet Minister and Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Obert Mpofu who worked closely with Cde Ncube in Umguza.
He said the celebrations in Matabeleland South must be a moment to reflect on the contributions of commanders, guerrillas, collaborators and villagers who played their role to ensure that independence was attained.
“As we go to Maphisa this year, we celebrate the efforts of our colleagues, the likes of Cde William Ncube who had to endure the bush and fight fire with fire, and all those whom we lost in the war. Cde Ncube was such a unifying force in the province as he led war veterans and as we celebrate Independence Day, we hope that such a spirit flows to our young people.
We are the old guard, myself and my colleagues went to war, we fought and delivered independence but that’s not all, we need our young people to carry the spirit forward, protecting the gains and going further to ensure our sovereignty and prosperity,” said Cde Mpofu.
Despite operating in small numbers, the guerrillas employed tactical mobility, laying ambushes and creating the impression of a much larger force, a strategy that successfully disrupted Rhodesian patrols and restricted their movement in key areas of Matabeleland South.
Cde Ncube’s journey into the liberation struggle was marked by sacrifice, resilience and an unyielding commitment to the cause of independence. Like many of his comrades, he endured long treks, harsh conditions and the ever-present danger of death.
At the time of his death, Cde Ncube was the Matabeleland North provincial chairman of war veterans and also served as a village head in Mvana, Umguza District.
He was conferred liberation war hero status and laid to rest at his homestead in line with Covid-19 restrictions that were in force at the time.
Cde Richard Moyo, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland North paid tribute to the late guerilla, describing him as a selfless leader who dedicated his life to serving the people.
He said the province was proud to have had such a committed cadre of the liberation struggle. Minister Moyo noted that while he was still young when Cde Ncube went to war, he later observed him in politics and witnessed first-hand his discipline, humility and unwavering commitment to the ideals of the liberation struggle until his death.
“He was a man of the people. Even in my younger years in politics, I noted how he was committed to the struggle and on the vision to transform the lives of people. For him the struggle did not end when we gained independence but he was committed to ensuring meaningful change for the lives of Zimbabweans.
I was much younger when they went to the war, but after joining politics and brushing shoulders with people of his calibre, I have learnt that we must honour our liberation stalwarts as there is a lot to learn from their spirited sacrifices.
As we have our Independence celebrations in Maphisa Matabeleland South Province, may it be an honour to every comrade who fought on that ground, dead or alive, and all civilians who contributed to the success and the provisions for the comrades,” said the minister.
Despite Cde Ncube’s passing on in 2021, his story continues to inspire a new generation as the nation reflects on the cost of its hard-won independence.
As celebrations return to Maphisa this year, the very soil beneath the commemorations carries the footprints of gallant fighters like Cde Ncube, men who once moved through the area under the cover of darkness, laying the foundation for the freedom Zimbabweans enjoy today.
Their legacy remains a solid reminder that independence was not given, but fought for and that the responsibility to preserve it lies with every generation.
Bongani Ndlovu