Chronicle Editor
Obituary
CDE Simon Khaya Moyo who died in Bulawayo last Sunday (14 November) and has since been declared a National Hero was an outstanding revolutionary who was also endowed with amazing intellect.
I first met Cde SK as the late National Hero was to be fondly called when he arrived in Zambia around 1976 from Uganda where he had done his university studies at Makerere University in Kampala, then a prestigious institution of higher learning.
When he got to Zambia SK looked just a simple and young fellow. It did not take time for us to strike a chord because he came to live with us at a township called Lilanda where liberation movements such as our own Zapu, the ANC of South Africa, Swapo of Namibia and MPLA of Angola had houses.
At our Lilanda house there were many comrades who lived there and for SK who was coming from a relatively comfortable life, lecturing in Uganda he could have been taken aback. There were just too many people there. However, he did not show any surprise or shock.
The arrangement at Lilanda was that the leaders had their own space or room and at first it was TG Silundika who had his own room, which he later on shared with the now late Vice-President Joseph Msika. The rest of us slept in a big room, which resembled a hall. We had stretchers for beds. That big room or hall we shared with among others Cdes Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu (NK) and Artwell Bokwe.
At first SK Moyo was not trusted by those he found in Zambia, something which was normal of course. Newly arrivals were viewed with suspicion. That meant he was not immediately given any post or assignments. Although a newly arrival, SK got everyone’s attention as he was well spoken, possessed a strong sense of humour and was very knowledgeable about many issues.
He seemed to understand a lot of things around him. Also his English diction was very deep and wide. There was a lot of intellectualism about him.
We got along very well and it did not take time for us to go out and sample some drinking holes together. In fact down our street there was a big bar, which in no time we were to be regular visitors there. When MPLA left Zambia following their independence they gave the house to Zapu. I then moved into that house and that is how I stopped living with SK.
Later on I was sent to the then Soviet Union and that was 1977. I was to live in the Soviet Union until 1983 when I returned to an independent Zimbabwe. I was not surprised to learn later that he had been appointed Special Assistant to our President, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.
He had the skill to handle such an assignment, which included drafting Dr Nkomo’s speeches, keeping his diary and arranging Press interviews. His messaging was good.
Working as the Special Assistant for Dr Nkomo meant that SK travelled everywhere with the party leader, a privilege he seemed to share with the now late Cde Daniel Madzimbamuto who was also a permanent feature in Dr Nkomo’s delegation. Back home I chose business over politics and started off with some enterprises in Victoria Falls, which snowballed into something big and I later moved into tourism.
My leaving politics did not mean that I had detached myself from former colleagues in the liberation struggle. I have been in touch with several of them SK included. I speak to Obert Mpofu, Brigadier-General (Retired) Abel Mazinyane and former Vice-President Phelekezela Report Mphoko.
I also used to get along with the late Vice-President, Cde Joseph Msika, Dumiso Dabengwa and a number of colleagues from the liberation movements.
n Cde Ronnie Patel served as a Zapu intelligence officer during the armed struggle.
Online Reporter