Liberation fighter recounts jail time with ED, Mohadi

FORTY-THREE years after independence, ex-combatant Cde Cornelius Nyathi vividly remembers the struggles of the liberation war.

An intriguing part of his memory is of him sharing a prison cell with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF Second Secretary Cde Kembo Mohadi.

Cde Nyathi recounted the memories of the armed struggle, conjoining them with present life events, which he says the Second Republic is fulfilling a lifelong dream envisioned by the captives and fighters of oppression.

A recent jolt in his memory during a rally held in Luveve suburb, Bulawayo on Tuesday, where Cde Mohadi led proceedings, sent Cde Nyathi leaping onto the stage where he had to be chastised for disrupting proceedings, before Cde Mohadi let him say his peace.

“I am surprised to see you are still alive. I have seen you on TV but I didn’t believe I would see you once again in the living realm. Look at you, you haven’t aged and are still strong and pushing our national agenda to free the nation. I am so proud of you,” said Cde Nyathi.

In an interview later at his one-roomed abode at Sidojiwe Flats, where he stays with his wife and nine children, he recounted what he described as lurid dreams and nightmares, which he says he shared with the Second Republic’s leaders.

“I have never forgotten what we fought for. I always hoped and knew we would meet again. It was a surprise that I met my fellow cadre today, whom I last saw while I was imprisoned in the 60’s.

“He managed to achieve what we all spoke about. At the time we thought it was just dreams but they made it,” said Cde Nyathi.

He recalled how they were met by fate after they were sentenced to death by the late Ian Smith regime.

“The 42 of us were incarcerated for crimes of war against the then government. Nine of us were sentenced to death and among that number, our President was there,” said Cde Nyathi.

“It was only through the pleading and prayers of the heroic Roman Catholic Priest, Father Emmanuel Ribeiro that our lives were spared. It was after we were spared our lives that we were given life sentences that we were separated.”

He said they spent at least 10-years in jail together, a time that he says can never be erased from his fading memory.

“Despite the fact that I am ageing, I will never forget the time we spent in prison. It was a tough time, we were tortured and starved but we never gave up,” said Cde Nyathi.

“After all, we were trained. It is what we gave our lives for. So, it was then that we were separated and lost touch, not that we had means of communication anyway. We were prisoners of war so we could not keep in touch because of the threat we possessed.”

The former freedom fighter told of how President Mnangagwa was always engrossed in literature and would encourage his mates to better themselves and understand the enemy’s intent through their literature.

“He was always buried in his books like an ostrich that buries its head in the sand. A brave stalwart he was and always standing up for us he encouraged us to be steadfast. While he was there Cde Mohadi joined us a couple of years later and he was quite interesting,” said Cde Nyathi.

“He was a teacher after all and had so much to talk about. We had time to enjoy ourselves while locked up but never shall the struggle be forgotten. Right now, I am so much impressed with the achievements, which I really never believed would be met.

“He sticks to his word and I believe his vision. Let’s not allow what the opposition and detractors are trying to shove down your throats. He is the real deal and that is why you see there is so much development now,” said Cde Nyathi.

Despite all the praises Cde Nyathi made known a plea he has attempted to deliver to the Presidium for years.

“I know due to the long years and travels after independence we lost touch and forgot about each other. I trust that after this meeting you will remember how we pledged to free our country,” he said.

Cde Nyathi suffered a physical disability during his detention in the 1960s and finds fending for his family difficult. A man with a big heart, he said he is keen to host the leadership at his home.