Chronicle Editor
Luckson Pasipanodya, Correspondent
ZIMBABWEANS are redirecting their thoughts this month in memory of those who sacrificed their lives to liberate the country from the oppressive clasp of colonialism while also reflecting on achievements made so far.
That Independence was attained at the expensive cost of life where sacrifices were made by a number of departed and living gallant sons and daughters of the soil is a fact that deserves recognition by every citizen. The month of April happens to the month of Independence, but it is characterised by pleasant and sad moments from 1980 to date.
In this article we are looking at heroes who departed in the same month that the country attained its Independence, keeping in mind that their death did not erase their contribution to the struggle for Independence.
Soon after attaining freedom, George Silundika passed on nine days into the month of April 1981 after suffering a stroke while working in his ministerial office in Harare. The late former Minister of Roads, Road Traffic, Post and Telecommunications was born in 1929 in Plumtree, Matabeleland South Province.
In 1951, Cde Silundika was expelled from Fort Hare University in South Africa for his participation in political activism. He was deported to Rhodesia in 1952 and became the architect of protests and demonstrations against colonialism. He was a member of African National Congress (ANC), National Democratic Party (NDP) and Zimbabwe African People’s Union (Zapu). His contribution to the liberation was so huge that in 1963, he was sent to Lusaka, Zambia where he directed the struggle and strengthened Zipra. He sought greater unity and peace through advancing unification of Zimbabweans from Zanu and Zapu. One year after Independence Cde Silundika died at the age of 52.
Veteran nationalist, Maurice Tapfumaneyi Nyagumbo died in April 1989 in Harare. Born in Makoni, Manicaland Province in 1924, Nyagumbo was educated at St Faith’s Anglican Mission and St Augustine. He worked in South Africa where he developed interest in politics and became a member of the Communist Party during apartheid in that country.
Eventually, he was deported to Rhodesia because of his political activities. Upon returning, he became the founder member of the Youth League in 1955. He joined the African National Congress in 1959 but was arrested and detained. He was released in 1963 and joined Zanu at its inaugural congress of 1964 where he was elected into the Central Committee. He was imprisoned again in 1967 to 1973 at Salisbury Prison. On release, he got involved in recruiting cadres from the armed struggle which birthed this country. He held various positions in government and his party Zanu-PF before a car accident claimed his life. Nyagumbo was passionate about the liberation of the country and its progress. He was aged 65 at the time of his death.
In April 1990, Zimbabwe lost Cde Willie Dzawanda Musarurwa who was born in 1927 in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West. He attended Nyamangara and Marshall Hartley Mission for his primary education. He also studied at Howard Mission and Goromonzi Secondary School. After completing studies at St Augustine’s Mission, he became a teacher at Epworth Mission in 1952. He went on to further his studies in Princeton University in Jersey in the United States of America. An uncompromising journalist and human rights activist who stood for truth, Musarurwa was committed to democracy.
He was imprisoned for 10 years in Rhodesian jails. He contributed greatly to the media fraternity as Editor at the African Weekly and Bantu Mirror. He became the first black Editor for The Sunday Mail. He was a founder member of the National Democratic Party (NDP and been a supporter of the Youth League and the African National Congress in the 1950s.
He was detained in 1964 to 1974 at Gonakudzingwa. In addition, he took part in the formation of the Patriotic Front in 1976 which involved Zanu and Zapu. He lived in exile in Zambia from 1978 to 1979 as Zapu Secretary for Information and Publicity. His last remembered contribution to the media was in April 1990 when he wrote an article in the Parade reviewing the media topography in the first decade of Independence. Musarurwa was 63 at the time of his death.
On April 18, 1996, the country lost a rising politician, Willard Zororo Duri in an accident which also claimed his two daughters in Rusape. Cde Duri was born in 1953 in Nyazura, Manicaland Province. He attended Rukweza School for primary education before moving to Hartzell High School for the Junior Certificate. He got seven distinctions at St Augustine’s Mission in 1971 the best student in the national records.
After Advanced Level he enrolled at the University of Zimbabwe where he was destined for a first-class degree before leaving to join the armed struggle in Mozambique under Zanla in 1975. He operated in the Gaza Province which was then stretching from Hwange National Park to Chimanimani. He became Sectoral Commander in 1978. He worked with Zipra forces to identify enemy targets and advise on how to attack them. He continued with his studies in 1980 and completed in 1984. He died when they were on their way back to Mutare from Independence celebrations in Harare. He was aged of 43.
Zimbabwe lost Brigadier General Charles Gumbo in April 1999. He was the first serving soldier to be buried at the National Heroes Acre. He was born in Gutu in 1954 and went to Mundondo Primary School. He did secondary education in Lower Gweru. In 1971, he trained as a boiler maker. In 1975, he slipped into Mozambique to join other liberators under Zanla.
He fought many battles in Chiredzi and Mberengwa. Brigadier Gumbo became a detachment commander whose task was to guide newly trained comrades through Gonarezhou National Park into Zimbabwe. After Independence he occupied many positions in the Zimbabwe National Army and contributed to the liberation of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1998 where he was the Sadc Taskforce Operations Director against the rebels. He died at the age of 45.
In April 2001, Cde Border “Madzibaba” Gezi died. He was born in 1964 in Gezi Village in Guruve, Mashonaland Central Province. He attended Muzika Primary School and Holy Rosary Secondary School in Mvurwi. At the age of 14, he made contact with Zanla forces operating in Mvurwi. He participated in the struggle between 1977 and 1979. He broke through Rhodesian security forces as a young Apostolic boy who was of no effect to the war, yet he was bringing pertinent information to the comrades. He was a Member of Parliament for Muzarabani Constituency and in 1996 he was Resident Minister and Governor for Mashonaland Central Province. Gezi was also Member of Parliament for Bindura in 2000. During the Third Chimurenga, Gezi contributed greatly by making sure land was restored to its rightful owners. He died at the age of 37.
Cde Stephen Jeqe Nyongolo Nkomo passed on in April 2003. A veteran nationalist born in 1926 in Matobo District, he was governor for Matabeleland South Province. He was educated at St Joseph Mission in Kezi before moving to Empandeni and Mzingwane secondary schools. He went to South Africa in 1944. He became a member of the Communist Party with fellow ANC South Africa cadres Duma Nokwe, and Alfred Nzo. He was a founder member of the South African Congress of Trade Unions.
He participated in the campaign that ushered in the Freedom Charter at Clapton in 1955. In 1960 he was part of the National Democratic Party and became chairperson of Bulawayo Branch at the formation of Zapu in December 1961. He escaped into exile in 1964 and became a diplomat representing Zapu in Egypt and Algeria in 1967. A fluent speaker in Arabic and French, Cde Nkomo championed Zimbabwe’s integration into the organisation of Africa Unity. In 1977 he was heading Zapu at its External Headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia. Cde Nkomo was yearning for unity, peace, economic empowerment and economic development as demonstrated by his participation in the Unity Accord of 1987. In the Third Chimurenga Cde Nkomo was part of the Provincial Land Distribution Committee in 2000. Cde Nkomo was 77 at the time of his death.
A dark cloud fell upon the country in April 2005 when Cde Enos Chikowore passed on in Harare. He was a member of the Youth League in the 1960s. Born in 1936 in Chivhu, and attended Chitauro Primary School and Kwenda Mission for his education, Cde Chikowore trained as a teacher at Waddilove Institute. He joined Africa Central Airways as an Accounts Clerk. In 1958 he joined the youth wing of the Southern Rhodesia African National Congress. In 1960 he was party of the founders of the NDP which eventually was banned and Zapu was born.
He joined Zanu in 1963 as its Secretary for Youth Affairs. Known as “General Chedu” he mounted sabotage missions for the colonists and secured dynamite from mines like Shabanie and Mashava Mines to blast selected areas. In 1966 he left for Zambia where he was instrumental in the formation of Dare reChimurenga and responsible for recruiting cadres for the armed struggle and running errands between Zambia and Tanzania. In 1967 he went to the UK for further studies at the University of York and the University of Leeds.
In 1981 he was appointed Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing and in 1992 he became Minister. In this Ministry he managed to organize rural and urban areas for integrated development. In 1997 he was appointed Minister of Transport who was also a participant in the Third Chimurenga and was against multiple farm ownership. He advanced peace and unity. He was 69 at his death.
Cde Livingstone Muzariri died in April 2011. He was born in 1955 at Chironda Village in Wedza, Mashonaland East and attended Chironga, Nyamhara and Mavuradonha for primary and secondary education respectively. He sacrificed his education and joined the armed struggle in 1973 where he entered Zambia. He received military training in Tanzania at Mgagao and became an instructor in 1975.
He worked at the party office in 1978 as Administrator. He was moved to Botswana as a Political Commissar. He was recalled to Maputo where he became a member of the Zanla General Staff. In 1981 he was sent to Romania by Zanu-PF and at coming back was attested into the President Office. He was a courageous and selfless cadre who loved farming. To him, land was an indispensable asset for the black majority. He passed on at the age of 56.
Zimbabwe lost veteran politician Cde Edson Ncube in April 2012. Born in 1938 in Tsholotsho at Matshudula Village Matabeleland North Province, he attended Ngungumbane Primary School, in the then Belingwe (Mberengwa) before going back to Tsholotsho for Sub A and B at Matshudula Primary School. He moved to Siphepha Primary School and later Luveve Primary School in Bulawayo. He studied at Inyathi Youth Centre and Hope Fountain Missions graduating with a Certificate in Carpentry. He taught at Daramombe in 1959 and moved to Bulawayo where he taught at Mpumelelo Primary School from 1960 to 1965.
He transferred to Maphisa in 1966 to 1969 and joined the Boka Group as a sales representative and became Marketing Manager for Matabeleland. He joined the ANC in 1959 at Daramombe where he was arrested for questioning by the Rhodesian Police. That marked his entrance into the political arena. He took part in NDP, ANC, PCC, and Zapu. He was involved in activism in Bulawayo. In 1962, he was appointed Secretary for Publicity for Matabeleland North Province. He was arrested for resisting UID and sentenced to 18 months in prison. He further languished in prison for another three years for refusing the referendum. He recruited freedom fighters to join the war. He was provincial secretary for Zapu in 1980. After the Unity Accord, he was appointed Co Chair of Matabeleland North Province Integration Taskforce. He was MP for Mpopoma in 1990-1995. He was an A2 farmer who advocated for National Independence. At his death he was 74.
A gloomy cloud engulfed the nation following the death of Cde Victoria Fikile Mahamba Sithole Chitepo on 8 April 2016. The widow to late veteran nationalist Cde Herbert Chitepo was born in 1927 in Dundee, KwaZulu Natal to a church minister and ANC member. She participated in activist resistance politics. She was Deputy Head at Adams College in 1946 at the age of 19 in Natal. She got a Diploma in Education and taught at Inanda Seminary near Durban between 1946 and 1952 and went on to study Social Sciences at the University of Natal and later post-graduate in Social Work at Birmingham.
She was shocked to discover that there was heightened racism where white students were not talking to blacks and she began to preach human dignity, equality and freedom of association. She went on to study Social Psychology at the University of London. She came back and became the first Secretary for Young Women Christian Association. She met national hero Cde Herbert when they were studying at Adams College in South Africa and established a life time relationship. In 1961 she was there at the formation of Zapu.
She provided reading material to political activists and detainees. She was arrested and detained several times. After her husband was assassinated, she continued to support the armed struggle until Independence. She supported education and advanced non-racial schools, peace, unity, leadership and global tourism. She died at the age of 89.
A veteran of the Second Chimurenga, Cde Vivian Mwashita (Kundai Mabhunu) died on 8 April 2016. Born in 1958 in Rusape, Newanji Village in Manicaland, she attended Rukudzo Primary School in Kambuzuma, Harare and did secondary education at St Peters Kubatana High School in Highfields. She crossed into Mozambique to join the armed struggle in 1975 with Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Winnie Nwewanji, and Susan Muchinguri among others. In Mozambique they went to Villa de Manica from where they were ferried to Nyadzonya Base. She survived Nyadzonya Massacre in August 1976.
She trained at Chimoio Training Base under the instruction of Augustine Chihuri (Steven Chocha) and Lot Sibanda. She survived Chimoio air bombardment by Rhodesian forces in 1977. She worked under General Tongogara and assisted in the burial of comrades who had been killed in the attack. She witnessed Rhodesian carnage and in 1978 she was deployed to the battle front in Tete Province under Cde. Perrence Shiri.
She was involved in active combat in Hwata area of Guruve. In one battle she was involved in combat at Patamukombe where the battle lasted from 7am to 9pm and she lost four colleagues. She was then moved to carry explosives, guns and landmines from Zumbo via Chidodo to supply fighting formations. She contributed in the formation of War Veterans Association. She was awarded a Liberation War Hero Bronze Award in recognition of her war contribution. At the time of her death, she was advancing philanthropy, peace, business and love. She died at the age of 57.
Brigadier General James Murozvi died in April 2017. Born in 1956 in Mazungunye area of Bikita, Masvingo Province, he attended Mazungunye Primary School from 1961 where he did his Sub A to Standard 1. He transferred to Ndahwi in 1963 where he did Standard 2 before transferring to Marozva Primary for Standard 3. He enrolled at Pamushana in 1967 where he did standard 4 to 6. He did secondary education at Nyatsime College in Harare. In 1974 he enrolled for a Diploma in Teaching at Mlezu Training College.
He objected to the Rhodesian attempt to press gang him into the Compulsory National Service Programme that was defending the Rhodesian government. In 1975 he crossed into Mozambique through Mt. Selinda and stayed at Chibawawa helping in the education department. He trained at Takawira 2 Camp in Chimoio. He was selected for further training in 1976 at Nachingueya Training Camp in Tanzania as part of the 5 000 Songa Mbeli (Advance Group). Cde James Murozvi (James Tichatonga) underwent a further Regular Officer Cadet Course by the Chinese Instructors in China. He was reassigned to Gaza Province in 1979 where he showed dedication to freedom, peace and independence. At the age of 61, he passed on.
Cde Zenzo Ntuliki died in April 2017. He was known as Maphekapheka Robson Shongoto. He was born in 1959 in Matshetsheni in Gwanda, Matabeleland South Province. He grew up in Mawabeni in Esigodini and learnt at Mawabeni Primary School and enrolled at Mzinyathini Secondary Schoool before transferring to Gwanda Secondary School from 1974 to 1975. He left school at Form 3 and skipped into Botswana through Gobajangu to join the armed struggle under Zipra.
He was based at Selebi Phikwe before being transferred to Nampundu Base in Zambia which was under the command of Cde Ahmed Gutu. In 1976 he was sent to Tanzania for military training at Mgagao and Morogoro Camps. He was deployed to Chakwenga Guerrilla Training Camp which was then under the command of General Phillip Valerio Sibanda. His duties were to recruit and vet cadres for training. He went for further training in Bulgaria. Upon returning Cde Ntuliki was posted to Southern and Eastern front and eventually was recalled back to Lusaka to reinforce Cde Joshua Nkomo. He survived a Rhodesian attack in 1979 which was aimed at assassinating Cde Joshua Nkomo. He was a champion in the drive to emancipate the oppressed Zimbabweans during the armed struggle which brought Independence. He was aged 58.
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