mbulelo smpofu
I met the now late National Hero, Brigadier-General (Rtd) Victor Chikudo Rungani, at Juliet Assembly Point (AP) in Beitbridge District, Matabeleland South Province in 1980, when, as guerrillas, we were emerging from the bush, following the signing of the ceasefire agreement at Lancaster House by our leaders on 21 December 1979.
Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani passed away at the age of 76 at Mbuya Dorcas Hospital in Harare, on Tuesday.
Juliet AP, tucked away in rural Beitbridge, was also referred to as Zezani, as it was situated in the Zezani area.
While Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani was in familiar territory — having been deployed in a ZANLA detachment to Matabeleland South Province, in early 1979 and having first covered Filabusi before moving to Gwanda and Matobo areas — I was coming from Matabeleland North Province, where I had operated as the ZPRA regional commander for the Northern Front One (NF1).
My area of command had included districts such as Bulilima in Matabeleland South, and Tsholotsho and Hwange in Matabeleland North Province.
When the ceasefire was announced, I had moved to Lima Assembly Point in Bulilima with units of guerrillas, who had operated in the surrounding areas. There was also a battalion stationed in Tsholotsho District under my command. The battalion was led by the now late Cde Middle (Colonel Smile Madubeko Moyo). However, the entire battalion was relocated from Lima to form the 2:1 Battalion in the newly constituted Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA). Being the camp commander of Lima AP, it became clear that the numbers had decreased significantly, and so Lima could no longer be maintained as an AP.
I was then ordered to take the 200-plus guerrillas from Lima and move to Zezani. That is where I met Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani. He immediately struck me as an affable and mature comrade. I found him already well-integrated with other ZPRA senior commanders who had operated in the Southern Front, such as the frontal commander, Cde Irvine Sibhona (Barberton Mzwambila), the commander of Southern Front Two (SF2) — which covered Mberengwa, Mwenezi and Beitbridge East — Cde Revees Nyandoro and his deputy Cde, Thathani Dube. The two are now also late, while Cde Sibhona now resides in the United Kingdom.
Having attended Luveve High School in Bulawayo may have made it easier for Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani to relate to guerrillas who had grown up in the city. He could switch between ChiShona and SiNdebele in conversation. He was undeterred by the fact that his SiNdebele was not polished.
The Zezani AP was unique compared to other APs across the country because it housed both ZPRA and ZANLA cadres. The two groups lived less than a kilometre apart, and not a single shot was ever fired between them at Zezani. Such discipline should be attributed to the foresight, maturity,and patriotism of commanders like Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani.
Cde Rungani was a unifier.
Soon after my arrival at Zezani, we, the commanders from both forces, agreed to locally integrate the two guerrilla formations for ease of management and command. We decided to form a battalion composed of equal numbers of ZPRA and ZANLA guerrillas. The goal was to prevent any potential conflict. When it came time to appoint a commander, we chose Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani because of the leadership qualities he exhibited. I was made his deputy, while Cde Revees Nyandoro became Chief of Staff, supported by Cde Rex from ZANLA.
We then deployed the battalion between the ZANLA and ZPRA camps. Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani and I pitched our individual tents side by side within the deployment zone. This action symbolised our message to the troops — who had sacrificed their youth, education, and professions to liberate Zimbabwe — that it was time for unity and national reconstruction.
After having lived harmoniously at Zezani, not as ZPRA or ZANLA but as freedom fighters united in a common cause, I was shocked to learn that those same comrades were later involved in violent clashes at Entumbane in Bulawayo during the regrettable and unfortunate disturbances of November 1980. A majority of the guerrillas from both forces, who were later deployed to Entumbane had previously been stationed at Zezani.
By the time of the Entumbane disturbances, Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani and I were no longer with those units.
I had parted ways with him briefly when I was among 14 ZPRA commanders selected to travel to the United Kingdom for a course at Sandhurst Military Academy. An equal number from ZANLA were also selected. However, I withdrew from the trip upon arrival in Harare, due to personal reasons. I was instead sent to the Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA) in Gweru for a standardisation course for officers, where I was reunited with Cde Rungani.
After completing the course at ZMA, Cde Rungani was commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed the first commander of 4:3 Battalion in Gutu District, Masvingo Province. The battalion was later re-designated as 4:2 Battalion.
I again found myself serving under Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani, this time as the Officer Commanding the Support Company of 4:3 Battalion, holding the rank of Major. Other COs, also Majors at the time, included:
ν A Company – Jackson Skuza, younger brother to the late musician and former guerrilla, Cde Solomon Skuza
ν B Company – Jacob Ngwenya
ν C (Charlie) Company – Engelbert Rugeje, now a Lieutenant-General (Rtd)
ν D Company – Bruce Musarurwa
ν Headquarters Company – Shereni
The Battalion Adjutant was Captain Mkhokheli Ndebele. Captain Paul Mhlanga served as the Quartermaster, Captain Never Mpofu as the MTO, and Captain Hope Mutize as the battalion’s Intelligence Officer (IO). Warrant Officer Mafu was our Regimental Sergeant-Major (RSM).
It must not be forgotten by Zimbabweans that the integration process during the early stages of independence was a delicate one. There were sporadic clashes between comrades in various ZNA units, often along ZPRA and ZANLA lines. However, in units under Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani — from Zezani to 4:3 in Gutu — such incidents were unheard of.
This was due to Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani’s commitment to unity. He was a fair commander who never discriminated based on background. He was level-headed and displayed exceptional leadership qualities, ensuring thorough integration within the units. Whether ZANLA or ZPRA, he treated everyone equally. Our camp was near the largest ZANLA Assembly Point, Dzapasi in Buhera District, which could have influenced dynamics — but our battalion became a model for integration within the ZNA. This was solely because of Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani’s outstanding leadership.
Cde Rungani also maintained a strong relationship with the first commander of Four Brigade, Brigadier Ray Maponga (late), who came from ZPRA. In fact, ex-ZPRA officers succeeded each other in that command, with Brig Maponga followed by Mike Reynolds (Charles Grey), who was later succeeded by Cde Tjile Nleya (Dubhu).
Eventually, Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani and I parted ways again when I joined the One Parachute Regiment — the airborne infantry unit — and later served in the Special Air Services (SAS). He moved to the Mechanised Brigade before being posted to the ZNA’s Engineering Military Equipment unit.
As we bid farewell to my first Commanding Officer, Cde Rungani, I urge my fellow comrades and the general public to uphold the values of unity. We are one people and must resist division based on background.
Col (Rtd) Tshipa is the former regional commander for NF1, who operated under the pseudonym Cde John Nyamupingidza. He spoke to our Assistant Editor, Mkhululi Sibanda.
Bongani Ndlovu