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Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, Senior Reporter
Tales from the liberation war are often filled with bloodshed, bombing, and tears, but amid the horror, there were moments of beauty and connection.
Zimbabwe’s journey to independence gave some cadres the chance to find love, even amid the most difficult circumstances.
Former wartime intelligence cadre Cde Doreen Sigoge remembers the first time she saw her future husband, the late Cde Sigoge after a parade on her first day at Mwembeshi Training Camp in Zambia.
He was the camp commander, tall and commanding, and she was drawn to him immediately.
Cde Sigoge died in June 2017.
“The next morning while at the parade quiet as it was, a tall man came through, and those that had been addressing us stopped talking as he was passing by.
The man said, ‘Liyangikhangela kanti lina bodaki lingifanisa lobani.’ (Why are recruits all staring at me as if I look familiar to them). We thought maybe he was going to address us but he passed his comment and drifted away. His name was Eddie Sigoge and he was the camp commander,” she said.
“His height and complexion caught my attention and then I didn’t know he would be my husband one day. I cannot really say it was love at fight sight but as days continued we drew closer and eventually got married. Sadly, he died but I still have memories of how we met during the war and how he used to intimidate us with his height.”
Cde Queen Maligwa (nee Dube) also found love during the liberation war.
Although most people couldn’t publicly declare their love or relationships, many got married and started families after Zimbabwe gained its independence. Cde Maligwa is married to a former freedom fighter, and they have four children together.
“I am married to a former freedom fighter as well, Lt-Col (Rtd) Douglas Maligwa and we have four children, Patience, Mduduzi, Mbekezeli and Dumoluhle Conrad. At the moment we are involved in different ventures but my husband is into full-time farming at our piece of land in Nyamandlovu, Umguza District,” she said.
Retired Brigadier General Abel Mazinyane remembers the strict rules that were in place to discourage relationships between cadres. Despite the ban, many fell in love, and some even fell pregnant during the war. Commanders had to make provisions for them, as there was no way they could go back home.
Relationships were further complicated by the fact that some cadres had come to join the liberation struggle with their family members, making it difficult to navigate romantic entanglements.
“Some of these pretty girls had come with their elder brothers and there was no way they would accept that someone is busy with their sisters while we were fighting for this country. Such complications are what encouraged commanders to ban all relationships hence we continued seeing and loving each other secretly until we got Independence.”
He said he first saw his wife Perseverance when she joined the camp but at that time did not show any interest as she was seemingly way too younger.
“We didn’t date during the struggle but as soon as we got Independence it was quite obvious I would marry her. I mean we had spent so many years away from communities, no woman would understand our way of life. They used to say we were arrogant, violent, and not romantic hence we realised we were better off with fellow cadres who understood where we were coming from,” he added.
“In 1982 I got married to my wife and we are still together just like many other colleagues who formalised their relationships just after 1980.”
For Cde Mazinyane, the connection he had with his wife was strengthened by their shared experience during the struggle.
“Our time together during the struggle was a perfect foundation that has kept us glued together even 43 years later,” he said.
The love stories that emerged from the struggle serve as a testament to the power of human connection, even in the most difficult circumstances. — @thamamoe
Online Reporter