Rhodesians tried to have Zanla, Zipra turn against each other

COMRADES JOHN GAZI (JG), whose Chimurenga name was Alfred Dube, and CETSHWAYO SITHOLE (CS), who used the nom de guerre Tonderai Ngoma, continue with their account. This week, they recount to our Society Editor PRINCE MUSHAVEVATO critical events that took place before and after Zimbabwe’s independence, highlighting their lasting impact on present-day Zimbabwe.

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Q: Last week, you explained the relationship and assistance that the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) fighters had with the masses. Can you carry on from there?

JG: Perhaps let me start by taking you back a bit. I began my narrative with 1976, but the previous year (1975), that is when we joined a group that came from training in Lebanon. We used different names from the ones we got at birth and were issued with different passports — there were Zambian, Tanzanian and Rhodesian passports that were given to us. We all came from different areas but had one common goal, which was to liberate the country from colonial bondage.

However, some people lost the true essence of this along the way. Have you ever wondered how Joshua Nkomo got that popular stick (walking stick) and was named Chibwechitedza in Mashonaland? He was accepted as the father of the nation until sometime in 1979, when the nation was divided by the colonialists. It is sad that when we talk about Gukurahundi, the unresolved issues, it distorts the whole struggle completely; it shatters everything. This issue needs to be addressed and fixed, and you will be surprised how people will pull together as one . . . We want those who orchestrated this nonsense on behalf of their Boer masters to get rid of this absurdity that is creating a disease called tribalism.

Q: Can you clarify this issue so that we are on the same page?

JG: When the Gukurahundi started taking place, the British were here, but they never said anything. Prince Charles and Margaret Thatcher were asked about it, but they claimed nothing of that sort was happening. A lot of our guys operated from Mashonaland, areas like Hurungwe. That is why Mashonaland West is known as “Mashonaland Best”. They did not treat us like Ndebeles but as their own sons and we remain the same to this day. We had a strong presence in Mberengwa, Mwenezi and other areas. In the Mberengwa area, there are several wreckages of planes that were downed by ZIPRA, including one that was carrying emeralds. Take note, ZIPRA’s slogan was “ZIPRA iShumba, Smith inyama”. It was in Shona, not Ndebele. That was our major slogan, including the accompanying song. In fact, the slogan excited everyone; no one challenged it or tried to come up with a counter-slogan. It was very powerful.

CS: (interjects) For your own information, the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) were surprised when we met at Mgagao in Tanzania that we were being led by Sam Madondo. We were actually being led by Richard Mataure, but our commander there was Madondo. Whenever he called for a parade, he was not addressing us in Ndebele but straight Shona. For instance, as recruits, our commander was a guy called General Mupandasekwa. Being led by Shona commanders surprised many; they did not expect it since we were Ndebele. I am saying this to highlight that some of the distortions we now have are unfounded. Our military instructors were Shonas, Ndebeles, Kalangas and so on.

It was criminal to say “uri muShona” (you are Shona). You would be arrested and heavily punished. We were one. Right from the time James Chikerema was leading, Frelimo had asked ZAPU to get an operational area as far afield as Mt Darwin. But Chikerema, because he had been coaxed by the Rhodesians to come back into the country, he delayed that issue. If it was not for that, ZIPRA could have been operating from Mozambique.

Q: You can carry on?

CS: ZANLA, including leaders like Tongogara (Josiah), and even FRELIMO, were urging us that “we are fighting the Rhodesians and the Portuguese, come this side, avoid the Zambezi River and we operate from this area. It is easier because you cross the Zambezi from Malawi, and when you get into Rhodesia, it will be simple.”

However, Chikerema could not accept that. The bottom line is that in all of this, there were no tribal barriers. We did not think along Shona or Ndebele lines; it was taboo to do so. Our structure had several Shonas, talk of the likes of Willie Musarurwa, among others; we were one people. We had ZIPRA fighters in Harare and many other places around the country. The very question about tribalism was something wrong and unacceptable. My first-born daughter is married to the Muzondo family. My grandchildren are with me while they work elsewhere. You cannot turn a weapon to fight a fellow liberator. Rhodesians were the ones who tried to have ZIPRA and ZANLA turn against each other.

 Q: Could you please explain how they tried to do so for the sake of those who are not privy to this part of history?

JG: They bought tanks and all the weapons they could, trying to create conflict between ZIPRA and ZANLA. In Bulawayo, at Entumbane, Colonel Dyck was at the centre of the skirmishes. He was at the Luveve bridge, launching mortars into the ZANLA and ZIPRA camps. General Masuku, Dumiso Dabengwa, General Mujuru, even Nkomo, told us not to get confused and fight each other. Nkomo even came to us and said, “After the war, do not come and spill more blood. During the war, it was for liberation, so why now? Why carry weapons to fight each other?”

CS: (interjects) But remember these skirmishes did not start at Entumbane; they actually began in Chitungwiza. Why were the ZANLA forces taken all the way from Chitungwiza to Entumbane and with people carrying weapons? This was a well-calculated move by the Rhodesians. Remember, they were still in the majority and held some big positions in the army. General Peter Walls was still there with his generals and officers.

They created this problem (tribalism) for us. When we left Mgagao and went to Zambia, before crossing into the country, we had the current army commander, PV (Philip Valerio) Sibanda, whose liberation name was Ananias Gwenzi; Moto; Goronga; Maseka, a very strong guy; Eric Ndondo; and Brighton Jones.

We had several Shona fighters who were part of ZIPRA and they were very good fighters. These are the people you need to interview when you want the true ZIPRA story. If you only come to us Ndebeles, it is actually an insult. They (Shona fighters) were part of the system from the beginning and they were seniors. For instance, I told you about Cde Mupandasekwa, whose liberation name was Kenneth Khanye. He was a commander of about 800 ZIPRA recruits. He has the whole story.

He operated with the likes of Cde Gazi and South Africa’s Umkhonto weSizwe because of the situation that existed at the time in Tanzania. Talk of Solomon Mujuru (Rex Nhongo); he was ZIPRA-trained by commanders like Brigadier-General Ambrose Mutinhiri (Retired).

Nikita Mangena was the commander of the army, but the actual man who was given the duty to command ZIPRA, to be the owner of the soldiers, was Mutinhiri, who was the Chief of Staff of ZIPRA. And all the time, he addressed us in Shona because he was at home. Our command came from all over the country.

Q: So, are you basically saying ZIPRA had a national character?

CS: Yes. Maybe just to take you back. First, it was Ndabaningi Sithole who was leading ZAPU externally, but he turned around and went where he wanted to go.

Then came Chikerema, who comes from Zvimba. Cde Mutinhiri comes from Hwedza. Our aim and objective during the struggle was to liberate the whole country. You cannot control Bulawayo and claim to have liberated the country without getting hold of the capital city. That is how you defeat the enemy. The commanders were organised; they had seen it all.

They had their strategies, plans and combat tactics for how they were going to deal with the situation leading into independence. They are still there. Probably this is the reason you will find the country needed to go back to the Soviet Union (Russia).

I want to believe that we got some food, fertilisers, among other things, because of some of our leaders like Mutinhiri, who fostered that strong relationship.

I still believe we will still get some help from them (Russia) to further develop our country, especially concerning natural resources, due to a friendship we built during the war.

The ZIPRA command has remained well-disciplined and has never allowed us to engage in rogue behaviour. Yes, there are some guys who became a bit nasty after the liberation, but the majority have remained guided by the founding principles that steered us during the struggle.

 

Next week, comrades John Gazi and Cetshwayo Sithole will conclude their chronicles with more interesting revelations.