Online Reporter
Politics Hub
On this day, 23 years ago, Zimbabwe lost one of its illustrious sons, Retired Major-General Charles Njodzi Dauramanzi—a veteran freedom fighter, a brave, courageous, selfless, and dedicated cadre.
Born on February 23, 1940, Major-General Dauramanzi was buried at the National Heroes Acre on February 28, 2003.
Major-General Dauramanzi was born in Chief Mukaro’s area, Gutu, Masvingo, and was the fourth child in a family of eight children. In 1961, the young Dauramanzi joined Rothmans of Pall Mall as a salesman.
He worked at this company for just a year before becoming involved in active politics as a ZAPU youth.
It was not long before he was arrested for taking part in political activities. After being granted bail, the young Dauramanzi skipped bail and left the country for Tanzania via Lusaka, Zambia.
He became one of the earliest ZAPU cadres to receive military training in China. After training, he was deployed in then Southern Rhodesia, where he worked on recruiting young cadres for military training.
Cde Dauramanzi was among the earliest ZAPU cadres to receive military training in China. From that time until his death, he remained persistent and consistent in his quest for total independence and sovereignty for his country.
When ZAPU split in 1963, Dauramanzi joined ZANU and worked with the late Vice President Cde Simon Muzenda and Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa in sourcing weapons used in the liberation struggle, including those used during the historic Chinhoyi (Sinioa) Battle.
Cde Dauramanzi was always in the thick of things, as evidenced by his involvement in the Revolutionary Council, responsible for reconnaissance, recruitment, and logistics.
After the disbandment of the Revolutionary Council in 1968 and the creation of the Dare reChimurenga in 1969, Cde Dauramanzi was appointed a member of the General Staff. He was later elevated to the High Command, where he was responsible for logistics.
In March 1975, following the death of Cde Herbert Chitepo, Cde Dauramanzi was arrested, together with other members of the Dare reChimurenga, High Command, and General Staff, and detained by Zambian authorities on allegations of complicity.
He was absolved of any wrongdoing by the courts and released from detention, along with his colleagues, in October 1976.
Upon his release, he crossed into Mozambique, where ZANU was now headquartered. At the historic Conference of ZANU held in Chimoio in 1977, he was elected to the party’s Central Committee.
Shortly after independence, Cde Dauramanzi was commissioned into the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) in 1980 as a colonel and worked as Director of the Army Service Corps until 1985.
Between 1986 and 1987, he commanded the 3 Brigade and the Presidential Guards Brigade, respectively.
He was then posted to the Ministry of Defence Headquarters as Director of Liaison, a post he held until his retirement in 1994 as a Major-General.
