adminrevolutionary comrades to remain focused and continue embracing the emotional feelings that has been the driving force in the prosecution of our struggle. The selfless determination displayed by our fallen and living heroes should prevail as the country’s legacy to be passed on to millions of future generations to come.
The Nyadzonya, Chimoio, Tembwe, Mavhonde in Mozambique, Freedom Camp, Kavalamanja (Fiera), Mkushi and JZ Camp attacks in Zambia might be long over, but memories continue to linger in our minds. A mention of these camps regurgitates chilling memories that provoke bitterness within those affected.
A mention of these camps evokes memories of the treacherous activities by turncoats like Nyathi, the man who sold out and engineered the Nyadzonya massacres. A mention of these camps, places where freedom fighters were brutally murdered by the savage Rhodesian Forces, brings tears down the chicks of every comrade but might not do so for traitors like Dr Mudzingwa who has now joined hands with MDC-T as merchants of violence.
The war of liberation was mainly fought in the rural areas of Zimbabwe hence the attachment with which the rural folk have on the ideals and virtues of the liberation struggle. They have remained steadfast, in face of the emerging challenges of neo-colonialism.
As the guns blazed in mountains, rivers, veils, bushes and in rural villages, those of the weaker heart and sellouts ran to seek refuge in urban areas. Harare and Bulawayo became the major safe havens for some, with others fleeing to seek refuge in neighbouring countries and across continents. Whilst on one hand the neo-liberal academics and sellouts migrated to safe havens in urban settlements or overseas, the rural folk endured it all and remained resolute to prosecute the war to its finality. They endured the physical and mental torture and the abuse exerted upon them by Rhodesians which included being quarantined in restricted villages (Makeep). The protected villages were scattered across the country, from Tsholotsho to Uzumba right across Marange to Gezani. Young girls and women, left behind by those who had joined the struggle, were denied of their dignity by the Rhodesian forces.
It is without doubt that the war of liberation was a terrifying experience that needed real man and women of strong character and visionary and principled nationalists like Cdes Mugabe and Dr Nkomo to give guidance on the prosecution of the war.
The weaker freedom fighters either sold out or were caught and jailed before their treacherous efforts could derail the liberation struggle as what happened with Dzinashe Machingura. The vitriolic and emptiness reflected in Dzino’s book is derivative of this weakness.
At the height of the liberation war, urban areas demographically grew to unimaginable numbers. The rise in population numbers in urban areas did not worry the Rhodesians as they felt it was in line with their strategy of isolating freedom fighters.
The war of liberation grew from strength to strength that by 1978 freedom fighters had established liberated zones. Other traitors, having seen the tempo with which the liberation war was being prosecuted, attempted to seek relevance by initiating an internal settlement, spearheaded by Muzorewa who teamed up with Rev Sithole and Smith to push for a bogus and discredited model of a Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Government.
The Smith regime, in its insane moments, thought this model would motivate freedom fighters to lay down arms and join the bogus arrangement. However, because of the principled revolutionary foresight of the freedom fighters led by Cdes Mugabe and Dr Nkomo the bogus strategy failed not only to gain support from the rural folk, but even from the international community and it died a natural death. The coming together of the internal reactionary parties to form the internal bogus government with the Smith regime motivated freedom fighters to raise the tempo of the war which resulted in sellouts migrating to urban centers to seek refuge.
This was the beginning of the rise in numbers of reactionaries in urban areas which resulted in the formation of puppet organisations like the MDC formations. On the other hand, the bogus strategy managed to hoodwink the majority of the urban population to align themselves with Zimbabwe-Rhodesia.
The urban centres became the main resource base for the Rhodesian Forces. It is easy therefore, for one who studies history and sociology to identify the link between this group of people and their appetite for treachery. The history of the urban centers political discourse is largely of negative political behaviours.
The urban centres of Zimbabwe have been synonymous with supporting puppet political organisations such as UANC and the MDC formations. The colonialists have left a legacy that has become cancerous. Due to their upbringing, the majority of the urban population still believe a white man is glorious and that no meaningful development can be achieved without him.
The belief that the only meaningful source of livelihood is for one to be an employee and not an employer continues to linger in the minds of the majority of urban population.
l Panganai Kahuni is a social and political commentator.
Online Reporter