‘Training at Mkushi was not a walk in the park’

WE continue our interview with Cde Sitshengisiwe Mutandabari pseudonym Cde Neutral Moyo.

Cde Mutandabari left for the armed struggle in Zambia while she was in Form One at Manama Mission in January 1977. She was part of the 400 pupils who were “recruited” by a stick of three ZPRA guerillas led by Cde Mdubane. In today’s instalment Cde Mutandabari tells our Assistant Editor Mkhululi Sibanda (MS) about her training at Mkushi Camp, which was a cantonment for female combatants. Below are excerpts from the interview. Read on…

MS: Let’s move to your training programme at Mkushi. Take us through that.
Cde Mutandabari: The training was never kind to me. Early morning exercises began with a whistle and in most cases it was Cde Motto, one of the instructors who blew the whistle. Before it was even blown, I would hear his voice saying ‘Kana ukanzwa pito ichirira inoti gijima, mhanya’. Exercises became the order of the day. The two-hour duration was not a walk in the park as I was not gifted in running. My endurance was very limited. We will finish the physical exercises at around at 6am and then proceed to catch a bath in the flowing waters of Mkushi River followed by breakfast if available. Tea and porridge could be served if available. Sometimes we ran out of supplies forcing us to go for days without food. There was a kind of legume called umtshatshatsha that I hated most. We ate it just to fill our stomachs. It was not tasty. Some comrades developed some skin diseases we called isikhumba touch. Cde

Twinlock would go hunting and bring some game meat. Going for food seconds was punishable but if one was successful then would regard herself as a heroine (laughing). In isiNdebele going for seconds was called amawele (twins). When asked how one could have done it under strict measures, the answer was; ‘Tactics comrade or I manoeuvred through skemitches (skirmishes)’. The language used during military drills was being put into practice on a social level. Another difficult task was walking for many kilometres when trucks bringing food supplies got stuck due to unfavourable weather conditions. We would then be asked to go and pick up the heavy loads of food such as mealie-meal. One would be in an empty tummy by the way. However, we proceeded with the training difficult as it was.

MS: What did your training cover?
Cde Mutandabari: We did short and long marches, obstacle crossings, road runs and judo exercises. We were taken through combat tactics, military engineering, topography, weaponry and explosives handling, first aid not forgetting politics. During training, we were armed with guns made of wood. Where ever you were, that gun was your friend.

That was meant to inculcate into us the importance of always carrying your weapon. It was a serious offence to treat that wooden weapon with little recognition. We were also assigned duties of guarding the camp and that was done on a rotational basis at different times.

MS: How did you cope with the difficult demands of the training?
Cde Mutandabari: I was coping well but at times I have to admit I faked illness as sick comrades would be exempted from training when ill. I was successful for the first two days because of the strange disease I had mentioned. Cde Butshe, who was in charge of medics at the camp didn’t notice the first time because it was still dark as we would be up very early in the morning. On the unlucky day, I was the last one to be attended to and one could be easily noticed. When I just mentioned the faked problem, Cde Butshe burst into laughter and said to me: ‘Kambe ungaka.’

He kept on laughing and said to me that I should not lie. That is when I fitted words in some song we used to sing at school to say; “When I was abducted, I was unable to escape. For they took me to the Zambian city to do six months training. For the training was hard and I was too young to do six months training.’ During the first days, like a majority I vomited because of the rolling on the bushes that had a pungent smell.

MS: You spoke about being assigned guard duties, did you go through that?
Cde Mutandabari: I was always unlucky to be on the 12 mid-night to 2am shift. Only frogs from the river (Mkushi) could be heard. A two-hour duration especially in winter was as if it was 10 years. It is now I imagine the dangers of being attacked by snakes as some features or points of guard were on ant-hills. The shooting practice was another mountain climbing. Cde Cecila Bhebhe would want to know my performance. In her spare time she would advise on how to go about it as she herself could handle shooting without any challenges. She was a sniper.

MS: How was it on the first day you handled the firearm?
Cde Mutandabari: On the very first day of using the weapon, five rounds of ammunition were given to me. All the rounds were wasted as I failed to hit the target. Holding breath as you released the trigger was a mammoth task and hence missing the target. I then started improving as time went on. I remember putting three rounds to good use at some point. What I did not want near me was anything to do with artillery. I used to say I can’t stand Nato and its paratroopers. That was my joke about it. During training members of the High Command would visit our camp.

These were Cde Nikita Mangena the army commander, the army chief of staff Ambrose Mutinhiri, Masala Sibanda and many others. As we prepared for the pass-out parade, tests were given. I did very well as I scored high marks that forced Cde Kumbirai Mari one of the instructors to look for me.

In fact he requested to see Neutral Moyo, which was me as I was called during the war. Others he also looked for were Apologise Toyitoyi (Sikhulumani Dube), Keabetsoe Dube popularly known as KD, Shumirai Nkwate (Agnes Fungai) and Ethel Thabiso (Musa Ndlovu). The mentioned comrades had also excelled in the tests. Cde Kumbirai Mari had not expected such a performance from me it seems.

He commented to Cde Maphani Stimela in IsiNdebele and said; ‘Okungabantu ongeke wakucabangela kutshayi sikolo kangaka.’ It was a great day to me because I was counted amongst the critical mass. As the training was nearing completion after a six-month intense period, thorough rehearsals were carried out. Comrades Dubhu (Brigadier Tjile Nleya) was there for the exercise.

Then came the pass-out parade and the guest of honour was the Commander-in Chief himself, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo. The day received great respect and recognition from all of us. We were dressed very smartly for the occasion in our military fatigues.

The Commander-Chief addressed us and was happy for us to have completed the training. He said we will not be immediately deployed to the front but we will go for further training in preparation for a Free Zimbabwe. Chanted was the slogan that went; ‘Zii Zimbabwe ZAPU PHUZA amabhunu’.

On the day we sang, displayed drills such as bayonet charge, and demonstrated for sure that we were ready for the war and that we had been properly trained. The leadership was impressed and that’s why when Mkushi was attacked the Rhodesians were shocked with the heavy resistance they faced from girls. They have written about it that at first they thought they were fighting men.

MS: What was the next step after completing the training?
Cde Mutabandari: After training, I moved to the second camp opening space for the second intake. It was in August 1978. At that time our commander Cde Nikita Mangena had died. I was selected with Cde Tsietsi Dube (Shupikai Nyika) to go for further training.

Travelling was overnight to VC and the driver was called Cde Jimmy. After a few days, Comrades Getrude, Tankwa and Sithandilizwe the driver came for us for vaccinations in Lusaka. A new suitcase and clothes were issued to me. The journey did not materialize. Along the way I was joined by a group of five who among them was Sikhathele, Bhodla Magadlela and Tryphine Khuzwayo (Regina Moyo). It was said we were going to be trained in military communications overseas.

Time went by and it was a flop. l was made to command the group. As a trained person now, the pride of knowing the practical operations of a gun could not be hidden. It was as if I was in Mount Sinai (laughing). Although we were unarmed, however, we were accorded that respect. Relaxed as always, awaiting a day I would be on a plane for further training, all hope vanished on the 19th of October 1978.

The camp commander, Cde Cecil Banda called all trained personnel to a meeting. He addressed us quickly and revealed that the enemy had started attacking Freedom Camp (FC) so we should be alert and make sure we cover and defend the camp.

To be concluded next week with Cde Mutandabari talking about what happened after the bombings at FC and Mkushi.