Online Reporter
THE north-eastern front, particularly Mt Darwin in Mashonaland Central province, was a critical battleground during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle. Owing to its proximity to Mozambique, which provided strategic rear bases for freedom fighters, the region witnessed some of the fiercest confrontations between guerilla fighters and the Rhodesian regime. This week, we begin to chronicle the wartime heroics of CDE CHIONE CHIMUKOSI, whose Chimurenga name was Cde Peter Tichatonga. Originally from Uzumba, Cde Chimukosi fought in numerous battles in the Mt Darwin area. In this instalment, he begins his story by telling our Political Editor KUDA BWITITI what inspired him to join the liberation struggle in the mid-1970s.
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Q: Please begin by giving us a brief background of yourself.
A: My name is Chione Chimukosi. I was born in 1955. However, my birth certificate was adjusted to say that I was born in 1958 because of some issues during the colonial era.
I was born at Nyadire Mission Hospital to my father Mutero Chimukosi and mother Janet Chimuziyo.
I grew up in Uzumba under Chief Nyadyiwa and Headman Rinomhota.
I attended Chidodo primary and secondary schools here in Uzumba.
Q: How was life under colonial rule in Uzumba as you grew up during the 60s and early 70s?
A: The colonial system was brutal. As the people from Uzumba, we were subjected to racial discrimination and ill-treatment. Our movements were restricted and in general, the people were not free. Things became worse when freedom fighters started operating in our area. The number of Rhodesian soldiers in our area grew exponentially. They set up bases around our community. At the same time, the comrades were also in the area, holding meetings regularly with the people.
On a number of occasions, my parents were arrested for attending these meetings and supporting liberation fighters. My family used to provide the comrades with food and information. They were taken to Mashambanhaka, a detention camp for the Rhodesian Security Forces in Uzumba, where they were subjected to beatings and other forms of ill-treatment.
Even us, the young ones, were not spared. We were taken to a camp at Manyika and were detained for holding meetings with the comrades.
Q: Tell us about the meetings you held with the freedom fighters. What were they about?
A: We discussed the liberation war. We also alerted them about the location or movements of the Rhodesian Security Forces.
So, in essence, I was a war collaborator first because the liberation fighters sent me to do those mujibha errands before I eventually joined the liberation struggle.
The people of Uzumba could not be separated from the liberation struggle because the combatants were part of us from the early days of the war.
Q: When did you join the liberation struggle and what led you to do so?
A: In 1974, a lot of comrades started coming into the area, holding meetings with the mujibhas and chimbwidos, as well as with the povo.
Most of the meetings were held at night in areas surrounding Chidodo Secondary School.
These meetings enhanced our political consciousness and made us determined to play a role in ending colonial rule and bring freedom to the people.
In our village, one of the comrades who had joined the liberation struggle early on was the late national hero and former Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service, Major-General Paradzai Zimondi.
He really inspired me and others from Uzumba to join the war because he went on to become a celebrated commander during the war.
He was one of the first comrades from our village to join the struggle and he became very popular because of his fierce passion and commitment to fighting colonial rule.
The colonial regime knew very early about his influence and targeted his family.
Sometime in late 1974, they bombed a house belonging to John Zimondi, who was Major-General Zimondi’s uncle, in Zimondi village.
Q: Do you recall the actual date you were recruited and what happened on this day?
A: It was on July 14, 1975. We were recruited as a group of 15 by Cde Dingani.
For me, the choice to cross into Mozambique was an easy one because I had already received political orientation during my stint as a war collaborator.
Our group was also chosen on account of our interest in the war.
All 15 of us were known to have been passionate about the war effort.
Some of the names from our group that I still remember are my brother Maxwell Chimukosi, Mavis Kawere, Makuita, Mpukuta, Tapfumaneyi Dyirakumunda, Tsitsi Chimbwanda and Shelter Makawatsine. A few days before, we had been alerted that we had to be ready at any time. So, July 14 was the day we were told to leave everything behind.
We walked for five days, from Uzumba, using the Mutoko route, heading to Nyamapanda to cross into Mozambique.
Next week, Cde Chimukosi will recount how he and the other comrades crossed the border into Mozambique.
Online Reporter