Chronicle Editor
TODAY we continue with our interview with Retired Colonel Reuben Mqwayi whose pseudo name was Phineas Moyo or Makepesi.
Last week Rtd Col Mqwayi spoke about his political activities as a student both at Thekwane Mission in Bulilima District, Matabeleland South and at the then University of Rhodesia (University of Zimbabwe) where he was an under-graduate doing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics, a rare feat during those days. He then abandoned his studies in fear of arrest, briefly indulged in teaching before crossing the border to Botswana on his way to join the armed struggle in Zambia. In today’s instalment in the interview with our Assistant Editor Mkhululi Sibanda (MS), Rtd Col Mqwayi speaks about how they re-organised their sector, which covered Umzingwane District, Filabusi and parts of Matopo, an area around Matopo Mission. Below are excerpts of the interview:
MS: After Bob Nine Finger returned with the 24 guerillas, what was the next move?
Rtd Col Mqwayi: We then started our operations, but Cde Bob Nine Finger did not stay much as he immediately returned to the rear after being recalled to be redeployed in the logistics department. He stayed there until he died during one of the Rhodesian raids in Zambia. Bob was from Gwatemba in Filabusi. After Bob Nine Finger left I took over the command of the sector on acting capacity until I was confirmed by Cde Shumba who a commissar in our front.
MS: I suppose that was a new operational area, any challenges that you encountered?
Rtd Col Mqwayi: The operations were going well, but there was an immediate need to bring order in the sector and deal with isolated cases of indiscipline that were beginning to crop up. There was a group of guerillas within the sector that was exhibiting wayward behaviour and we had to quickly address that.
MS: What were they doing and what course of action did you take?
Rtd Col Mqwayi: Those comrades were not part of our unit when we were deployed. To our utter shock they had turned to drinking and were not co-operating. Their behaviour was no longer consistent with the ethos of the military and we immediately took action. Firstly, we rounded them up and disarmed them. Those guys were Cdes Killer, Cingweni and Mloza. We then shipped them to Botswana through Kezi where they were to be dealt with at the rear. I think those guys had been left by Nkosembi, who before our arrival had been the commander in the area.
MS: Then tell us about your initial operations.
Rtd Col Mqwayi: Before I get into operations it is important that we also had to re-organise the area.
After taking over the command of the sector, Cde JB Moyo who is now resettled in the Marula area, then as sectorial commanders I and Brian Mahlangu who was commanding the Mberengwa sector we met and decided to beef my area. He gave us a platoon that had guerillas who had come from Mlungushi in Zambia. They had come under the command of Cde Thathani. The Mlungushi boys among them was Tsar. Also there were some from Angola among them Thebula who came from Gwanda. I last heard that he was working at the National Railways of Zimbabwe. Then the boys is Matopo had among them Cde Blue who was nicknamed Mandarambani. The boys from Essexvale (Esigodini) had JB Moyo whom I spoke about above. So we set on to work as very mobile units. My sector did not cover Kezi although we were in Matobo.
MS: Why did Mahlangu give you the troops?
Rtd Col Mqwayi: You see, their sector was much smaller than ours, so there was a feeling that they could not sustain such big numbers. Those guys from Mlungushi had undergone advanced guerilla training, but we had to get them to operate as guerillas as they were not armed for what they were trained for.
derick.khumalo