Deserter demands spoils of war

Second Chimurenga deserter Mr Amos Kademaunga says he is bitter that he is not enjoying the spoils of the war.
The irony of the claim was lost on a private newspaper which yesterday dedicated much space to the war deserter hardly a week after publishing a subsequently discredited story in which Mr Kademaunga declared Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa was not a part of the iconic Crocodile Group Operation.
The latest article was written by Mr Jealousy Mawarire, one of the few people to declare allegiance to the structure-less People First “party”.
Sources told The Sunday Mail that Mr Mawarire wrote the original article using the pseudonym Freddy Mutoda.
Historical accounts show that the Crocodile Group Operation consisted of three units working separately and VP Mnangagwa and Mr Kademaunga were assigned to different groups.
Further, while VP Mnangagwa went on to distinguish himself, Mr Kademaunga deserted and disappeared into obscurity until he was resuscitated by publications such as The Daily News.
Historian Dr Baxter Tavuyanago, in the Global Journal of Human Science, Political Science, said Mr Kademaunga was a “timid” character who jeopardised military operations.
On 1 July 1964 the Crocodile Group unit led by the late Cde William Ndangana and comprising Victor Mlambo, James Dlamini and Mr Kademaunga planned an attack on a house at Nyanyadzi Police Station.
“Kademaunga broke line with others as he was already growing timid. He was spotted by an African constable on patrol, Chinembiri, and he rose and started running.
“Chinembiri lit his torch and barked ‘hini ndava’ (what is wrong)? Ndangana threw his bomb at the constable but missed him … Back at their base, Kademaunga was given a stern warning for disrupting their plan,” reads part of Dr Tavuyanago’s paper.
On July 8, 1964 Mr Kademaunga told Cde Ndangana he was opting out and was threatened with execution.
Mr Kademaunga fled an operation at Chikwizi Bridge soon after and only resurfaced on July 5, 1968 when he was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison for illegal erecting road blocks.