I had a brush with death several times

Former freedom fighter CDE CHIPO MARIWO, whose Chimurenga name was Trymore Magorira, considers herself lucky to be alive. She recounts to our Political Editor KUDA BWITITI some of the daring escapes and close calls she had during the liberation struggle.

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Q: You said you faced many near-death experiences during the war. Please tell us about these episodes.

A: One such incident was the Rhodesian forces’ raid on Tembwe in Mozambique, in 1976. This was just before I started school at the Mavhudzi educational institution for freedom fighters. I had been at Tembwe for only two months when this attack happened. The attack took place after some sellouts gave the enemy information about that base. It was around breakfast time when we first heard the sound of helicopters. We knew that trouble had started.

Suddenly, the whirring sound of helicopter blades shattered the serenity in the bush. They opened fire from above; a hail of bullets rained down.

Q: How did you survive the attack?

A: Instinct kicked in. We scrambled for cover, diving into trenches and seeking refuge behind whatever protection the base offered. Paratroopers were coming down fast. But we were lucky that we were alert and managed to escape, and there were few casualties. They also used acid-like bombs. We later learned that these types of bombs were called napalm bombs. This was a chemical bomb that had been banned after its destructive effects were noted during World War II.

It was dropped from the air. It was a porridge-like bomb and if it landed on you, you would lose your hand and other body parts. I escaped unharmed from those bombs because of sheer luck. I know of many comrades who lost their hands because of the napalm bomb.

Q: Do you remember some of the other comrades who survived the napalm bombs?

A: I think the most prominent cadre I remember was former Vice President Joice Mujuru. There were also many comrades from my home village in Mutoko, with whom I had joined the war.

Q: Which other near-death experiences did you encounter during the war?

A: There was a traumatic incident that happened. I think it was in 1978, when I was walking with other comrades from Mavhudzi to Maroro. There was a common practice we engaged in, which was called chirenje. This involved selling our clothes to the povo.

So, on the second day of that long journey, soon after we had sold our clothes, somewhere in the bush, we started seeing people’s heads.

It dawned on us that our route was infested with lions.

We saw the lions running towards us as we were bathing in a river. It was mayhem. We hurried to dress up and escape.

But looking back, I saw an unimaginable horror unfold.

One of our youngest female fighters was separated from the group. A lion singled her out and attacked her. We realised that to go back and save her was to condemn ourselves.

With a heavy heart, we were forced to flee. The image of that young woman’s struggle is forever etched in my memory.

It was a decision that would forever scar us, a stark reminder of the brutal choices war demands. It could have easily been myself who was devoured by that lion.

There was also another incident when I cheated death. During a battle in Nyanga, the enemy forces ambushed us.

We lost that battle and many comrades died. I had to pretend to be dead. As they were checking for survivors to capture, an enemy soldier kicked me to check if I was alive. However, I remained still. I knew that if I moved an inch, he would have finished me off.

Q: Tell us about the final days of the liberation struggle.

A: I was one of the comrades who gathered at the Nyanga Assembly Point as the war ended. Freedom meant so much to us because of the harrowing experiences we had encountered. During the ceasefire, some comrades at the assembly point fainted because they were so overjoyed that we had finally won such a protracted war.

After gathering at the assembly point for several weeks, I returned home to live with my parents.

When demobilsation came, I received my dues and relocated to Harare.

In 2000, I took part in what I saw as the final stage of the war when I was involved in the Third Chimurenga by taking over a farm previously owned by a white farmer in Macheke. I am now a full-time farmer.

Q: Thank you for your time comrade.

A: You are most welcome.