Vusumuzi Dube
WE continue our interview with former freedom fighter Lieutenant-Colonel (Rtd) Cde Njabulo Gwembetsha Ngwenya, pseudonym Cde Dokotela Makhalima. In the previous two editions, Lt-Col (Rtd) Ngwenya told our Assistant Editor, Mkhululi Sibanda (MS), about how he joined the armed struggle and underwent initial military training at Mwembeshi in Zambia before his group was moved to Mgagao in Tanzania. There, they joined ZANLA recruits as part of the amalgamation of the nationalist forces under the Zimbabwe People’s Army (ZIPA). However, that arrangement was short-lived due to various challenges. The ZPRA recruits subsequently resumed their training at Morogoro, also in Tanzania. Below, Lt-Col (Rtd) Ngwenya resumes his narration, reflecting on his training at Morogoro.
MS: In the last interview, you were speaking about arriving at Morogoro. Take us through your experience upon reaching there.
Lt-Col (Rtd) Ngwenya: Our training at Mwembeshi before moving to Mgagao had been extremely tough. It was as though our instructors were preparing us for the unknown. Those intense obstacle crossings and high jumps played a key role in our survival at Mgagao, especially given that we were unarmed at the time when there were skirmishes there. However, arriving at Morogoro was an exciting day for me. I often compare it to what Prophet Mwazhe described about his arrival at Howard Mission. I was delighted to be in a place known for producing crack units of ZPRA guerrillas. We were transported to Morogoro in OAU trucks and arrived midweek. Initially, the instructors were soft on us, likely out of consideration for what we had endured at Mgagao. We were given a few days to settle in.
During the initial briefing, Eddie Sigoge, one of the senior instructors asked those with any illnesses or allergies to declare them. I told him I had issues with thunderstorms, to which he laughed and said that would soon change. I should mention that our original instructors from Mgagao, such as Sam Madondo and Stanley Gagisa, did not accompany us to Morogoro. They went directly to Zambia to train other groups at Mwembeshi. Our formal training began the following Monday.
MS: How was the training?
Lt-Col (Rtd) Ngwenya: Anyone who went through Morogoro will tell you that it produced elite guerrilla fighters. On the first day, we were subjected to a rigorous toyi-toyi session, which became a daily routine. Afterwards, we would bathe and then attend various drills, depending on the instructor. We were trained in tactics, engineering, weapon handling, map reading, and more. Sigoge and Godfrey were responsible for physical training. The now ZDF Commander, General PV Sibanda, was in charge of tactics, while Moto and Jones handled map reading. Of all the drills, I particularly enjoyed learning about explosives — their use and application. We were taught how to booby-trap items like radios, books, and chairs. For example, sitting on a booby-trapped chair could complete a circuit and trigger an explosion as soon as the weight is felt. As for the diet, it was adequate. Interestingly, we were issued a packet of cigarettes weekly, even if one wasn’t a smoker. We completed our training after six months. However, before graduating, we undertook a practical exercise to apply what we had learned.
MS: Describe what the exercise involved.
Lt-Col (Rtd) Ngwenya: It was referred to as a “short march” to a mountain called Ngurandege, although the distance was far from short. As recruits, we were fully kitted and carried our gear, but instead of real weapons, we used dummy ones. Navigation was done using a compass, essentially reinforcing our map-reading skills. We moved in platoons. All Morogoro recruits were required to complete this exercise — it was a tradition. We set off between 7 and 8pm. It was a gruelling night march. Some comrades got lost but eventually found their way. Groups with poor navigation skills sometimes ended up in sisal fields, getting pricked by the plants. To verify completion, we had to bring back evidence of reaching Ngurandege, as the instructors did not accompany us. They expected us to return with specific markers from the destination. After reaching the mountain, we marched back to camp. Before our training was completed, a group of 10 was selected to go to the Soviet Union for advanced training. They had already departed by the time we held our pass-out parade.
MS: Do you still remember the 10 who were selected?
Lt-Col (Rtd) Ngwenya: Yes, they were divided into two groups. Five went for the brigade commander’s course, and the other five were trained as political commissars. Those who did the brigade course were now Brigadier-General Mpandasekwa Muzheri, Soneni (Polate Moyo), his cousin Bitwell, Single Ndlovu, and Brigadier-General Ben Nyathi (Munda). The second group consisted of Clever Nkala, Sotsha Mpunzi, Professor, Max, Donsi, and John Gazi.
MS: What criteria were used to select them?
Lt-Col (Rtd) Ngwenya: The command at Morogoro used training records, performance assessments, and educational backgrounds to make their selections. Brig-Gen Muzheri was our recruit commander — the lead recruit during training. In every group, one person was chosen as overall commander, supported by company commanders. Muzheri held that top position in our Group of 800.
MS: After Morogoro, where were you deployed?
Lt-Col (Rtd) Ngwenya: We were taken to Zambia, where comrades were posted to various sectors. For instance, Maphekapheka (Zenzo Ntuliki) was assigned to the ZPRA intelligence division. I was deployed to a forward base near Kariba, where the base commander was Cde Limon. Other senior guerrillas present included Siamangongo, Mike, Dobson, and John Mangobongobo. Our deployment took place in December 1976. That base was surrounded by smaller camps, and our arrival boosted the numbers there. Later, we were moved to Lisitu, still on the Zambian side. I only stayed there for a few weeks before being recalled to the rear.
MS: From the front, where were you sent next?
Lt-Col (Rtd) Ngwenya: I left with Makoni (Elias Moyo); we were five in total. We were taken to Freedom Camp (FC), where the commander was Cde Gadaffi. Our first task was to conduct an induction for the first group of recruits heading to Angola for training. We gave them basic military instruction. After about a month, we were informed that officer cadet vacancies had opened at the Zambian Military Academy (ZMA) at Kohima. I was among those selected.
The group was a mix of new faces and seasoned fighters who had seen action at the front. Initially, our number was over 100, but strict medical assessments reduced it to 95.
l To be continued next week, with Lt-Col (Rtd) Ngwenya discussing cadet training at Kohima and subsequent deployment.
Online Reporter