Online Reporter
Chronicles from the 2nd Chimurenga
LAST week, CDE RAYMOND DZINGAI TAKAVARASHA, whose nom de guerre was Ray Che Ncube, explained how the deadlock between ZANU, FROLIZI, ZAPU and the ANC led to the formation of the Zimbabwe People’s Army (ZIPA). This week, he recounts to our Features and Arts Editor PRINCE MUSHAWEVATO the dramatic events that unfolded before the Lusaka Accord’s proposed congress to select a single leader to spearhead the struggle (after considerable delays), and how the trajectory of the liberation struggle changed at this pivotal moment.
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Q: Can you tell us what happened after the formation of ZIPA?
A: ZIPA was primarily a coalition of the military wings of two political movements — ZIPRA, the military wing of ZAPU; and ZANLA, the military wing of ZANU.
A year prior, in 1975, we had lost Herbert Chitepo.
ZANU became more militant and aggressive, believing that ZIPRA and other local political movements were involved in his death.
That is when they began the “Tamba wakachenjera” slogans and chants.
These unfortunate events greatly disrupted the Lusaka Accord.
The congress, which was the reason the nationalists had been released, did not take place by the stipulated March deadline.
ZANU and the ANC led by Muzorewa opposed the congress and tried to avoid it, perhaps sensing that (Joshua) Nkomo would win.
Nkomo insisted that the congress take place, even if delayed.
This resulted in the formation of pro- and anti-congress groups.
However, the congress was eventually held in September that year, led by Joshua Nkomo, under the auspices of the ANC — the same umbrella organisation that was supposed to house all parties, namely ZANU, ZAPU, FROLIZI and the ANC itself.
Q: How did Nkomo take charge of the proceedings when there was no consensus between the parties on how to proceed?
A: Bold, yet controversial, decisions were necessary for progress.
Muzorewa, while still the leader, had turned against the Lusaka Accord. He disagreed with the other parties within the ANC.
Nkomo insisted that talks with Ian Smith should continue under the ANC umbrella.
This impasse led to a split, with Muzorewa forming the United African National Council (UANC) in 1975.
Nkomo then established his own ANC-Zimbabwe to distinguish it from Muzorewa’s.
It is important to note that another conference had been held in Victoria Falls before the September one.
This earlier conference, led by Muzorewa, involved a train parked at no man’s land on the Victoria Falls bridge.
Muzorewa, leading the ANC and representing ZANU and ZAPU (both under the ANC), was present, as was Smith, assisted by South Africans. However, it was unproductive.
Nkomo had gained significant popular support by recruiting people to the struggle and was clearly the favourite at the time.
Bishop Muzorewa had been intended to be the vice president, likely with Chinamano’s support, as he had brought Muzorewa into the political arena.
But over time, Muzorewa’s ambitions shifted, and he no longer wanted to relinquish power.
Q: You can carry on.
A: The talks that were underway had been sanctioned by the Frontline States.
Initially, it seemed as though they would succeed, but they ultimately collapsed.
When the talks broke down, the war resumed and everything changed.
The Lusaka Accord, which Nkomo was so determined to implement, had proposed a different path — one that was meant to bring an end to the war.
It is important to highlight here that Nkomo’s talks with Smith were guided by the Lusaka Accord.
He never acted on his own initiative.
Q: After the war resumed, what happened to you? I understand you have a background in broadcasting?
A:When Webster Shamu (Charles Ndlovu) was in Mozambique, I was in Zambia.
I am sure some of you remember the words: “This is the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Voice coming to you from the external service of Radio Zambia here in Lusaka. We are broadcasting on the 25-, 31-, 41- and 49-metre bands and for our listeners in Wenera, we are broadcasting on the 90-metre band.”
This would be followed by songs like “ZIPRA ishumba; Smith inyama, haiwaiwa une ngozi Smith, une ngozi yebere . . .”
This was the signature tune on the station.
We also had another track, “Chana chebhunu chine mawara, chakakura chisinganditye, chichanditya ndatora nyika yangu, Zimbabwe, tichaitora Zimbabwe”, which was popular on radio.
I was one of the people who was recording songs by ZIPRA cadres for broadcasting.
I also recorded songs before and after the funeral of the ZAPU second vice president, Cde Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo, in January 1977.
Q: Give us a brief background about your radio career in relation to the struggle?
A: We had many Shona songs on the station, which was ZAPU-led.
I was not one of the original broadcasters there.
There were others before me, some of whom had even worked for the Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation (RBC), just like Webster Shamu.
There was Joseph Masuku, who was very popular like Shamu, having been on radio in Zambia for a long time.
There was also Lazarus Mpofu and Jane Ngwenya, who had been broadcasting in Zambia (then-Northern Rhodesia).
The radio presenters were so vocal and influential that talkative people were jokingly said to have “Rusaka”, derived from Lusaka (where the radio station was based).
Lazarus Mpofu had been part of the RBC before moving to Lusaka.
While there, he met people like (John) Mbedzi and several others who came later.
They were brought from the camps to join the radio station.
I arrived around 1975/1976.
I am not sure when the others started, as I was not there yet.
But I also know that there was another radio station broadcasting from Russia, Radio Moscow, which featured people like Mawarire and Enos Lunga.
Q: So, we could safely say that after mobilising people on the ground against the colonial system, you eventually
transitioned to radio to amplify your reach?
A: I left for Zambia via Botswana with Cde Wilfred Baleni.
I consider Cde Baleni my Siamese twin, as our journey in the struggle is intertwined.
We were always together and we remain so today.
He can provide detailed accounts of some of our exploits during the struggle, especially before we crossed the border into Zambia.
To summarise, when I was in Fort Victoria (now Masvingo), the police began persecuting us.
It was during this time that the late information secretary, Cde Willie Musarurwa — who recruited me into ZAPU’s publicity department after recognising my skills and abilities in the field — decided that I should cross the border into Zambia.
I travelled and was based at the ZAPU headquarters in Lusaka, working in the publicity department, under Cde Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu, on party publications and under Cde Lazarus Mpofu in radio services.
This was all done under the
overall supervision of Cde George “TG” Silundika, the deputy secretary for information.
At the ZAPU headquarters in Lusaka, I met and interacted with military and security leaders, such as Alfred Nikita Mangena, Ambrose Mutinhiri, Elliot Masengo, Jevan Tshangani Maseko, Lookout Masuku and Masala Sibanda, as well as ZANLA commander Rex Nhongo during the time when Rhodesian newspapers were filled with rumours of his death.
We exchanged notes as Patriotic Front members with broadcasting colleagues from ZANU, namely Cdes Webster Shamu and Thomas Mandigora (Grey Tichatonga).
Brigadier-General (Retired) Ambrose Mutinhiri, who is still alive, greatly influenced me during this time.
He was more involved in training but possessed exceptional motivational skills, or rather, a way of speaking that kept our fighting spirit alive.
He resembled Nikita Mangena in many ways, which perhaps explains why he became the acting ZIPRA army commander after Mangena’s death.
Next week, Cde Raymond Dzingai Takavarasha will continue his story, highlighting his experiences on radio in Lusaka, Zambia, and sharing personal accounts of his interactions with liberation struggle leaders.
