Online Reporter
Africa Moyo in VILANKULO, Mozambique
AS one approaches the Magacaia Village in Massinga District, Inhambane Province in Mozambique, they are greeted by the Zimbabwe flag that flies high at the Josiah Magama Tongogara Memorial Site.
Vice President Kembo Mohadi visited this site yesterday as part of his tour to assess liberation war shrines in countries from which Zimbabweans viciously fought for independence from the racist Ian Smith regime.
He was received by senior officials from the province, together with a cheerful and colourful group of people including Frelimo supporters who wore the party’s regalia.
The Frelimo supporters broke into song and dance the moment they saw VP Mohadi’s motorcade.
The Josiah Magama Memorial Site, which encompasses three aspects, which are cenotaph, symbolic grave and a memorial tree, was constructed by the Government to immortalise the role played by the late military general, affectionately known as General Tongo, who commanded Zanla, the military wing of Zanu.
He was also a member of the Dare reChimurenga and the High Command, which directed the liberation struggle.
Gen Tongo perished in a horror road accident around 6am in Magacaia village, on December 26, 1979, as he drove to Chimoio, to inform freedom fighters that they should lay down guns following the thrashing of a deal, commonly referred to as the Lancaster House agreement, which would bring independence.
He had driven for about 550km from Maputo to the north, passed through another base at Xai Xai, which was primarily for ideological orientation for recruits before being moved to other bases for military training.
When Gen Tongo got to Massinga, 321km from Xai Xai, he met his fate, dying a few days after the signing of the deal that marked the end of the war and the coming of independence, as he was going to Chimoio, located about 608km from Massinga.
He was with now Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who reportedly sat at the back while General Tongo occupied the front passenger seat.
A villager, Fernando Joao Dias, now late, witnessed the crash while eating a mango.
He then planted the seed later that and it is now a memorial tree, which has been fenced off.
An information plaque has also been installed.
Construction of the cenotaph started in March 2018, led by the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ).
The cenotaph, cladded with granite, was installed and adorned with elements that include the Great Zimbabwe Monument model, the Zimbabwe bird, spear, sword and polished black granite panels with inscriptions.
There is also the Josiah Magama Memorial Health Centre, which is almost 90 percent complete.
It has a maternity ward with six beds, six beds in the waiting mothers’ ward, two labour delivery rooms, a conference room, kitchen, shower and toilets, storeroom and a borehole powered by a generator and a 5 000-litre water tank.
VP Mohadi toured the health facility including staff accommodation.
Once complete, President Mnangagwa will officially hand over the facility to Mozambicans.
In an interview after his tour, VP Mohadi said General Tongo fought valiantly to see an independent and united Zimbabwe.
“Well, my fondest memory is that he was a General. A General barks orders, he does not persuade,” he said.
“He used to bark orders to each and everyone. But one good thing about Tongogara was that he did not know that there was Zapu and Zanu; he interacted with both.
“I remember when I used to work at Zimbabwe House (in Zambia), which was (the late former Vice President Dr Joshua) Nkomo’s headquarters, he used to come and give me assignments. He would say ‘mfana, I want you do A, B, C, D’; and I would do it. So, he is a man who had that spirit of unity, he wanted people to be united all the time.”
VP Mohadi said it is heartbreaking that he died on the eve of independence.
“He should have been there, really. I don’t think we would be the same if he was there. Whoever decided to take him away, robbed Zimbabwe of a man, robbed Zimbabwe of a general, a man with a vision, olombono.
“But what I am happy with is that where he lost his life, which is this place here, it’s been well preserved. You know the cenotaph is there, where we have his short history, the narrations, also his symbolic grave, it’s equally good; well kept. Also, the tree that was planted in honour of him by that farmer who I don’t even know, has grown so big.
“So when you come here, whether you are driving or a visitor, or you don’t even know where you are going, but you find flags flying there, you find all these structures down there, you are forced to ask, but what happened? What is happening here? Then they will tell you, no, no, no, that’s where one of Zimbabwe’s greatest Generals passed on.
“I must give credit to vana (Mr Lovemore) Mandima (the NMMZ southern region director) and the rest, for this good job done here. That is what I would want to see at each and every shrine that we have in the countries that we had our comrades interred,” added VP Mohadi.
Asked by a Mozambican journalist the legacy left by Gen Tongo, VP Mohadi said: “Unity, cooperation and development.
“He stood for Zimbabwe, and he also stood for Africa. He stood for peace, that there should be peace within Zimbabwe and within the SADC region and the entire continent.”
A community leader Mr Xavier Matsimbe, who spoke with VP Mohadi in Shangani, praised Zimbabwe for its efforts in memorialising General Tongo.
