We eliminated 60 enemy soldiers at Rutenga Camp

LAST WEEK, CDE WILLIE GAVHU told our Political Editor KUDA BWITITI about the specialised training he received to prepare him to fight in the liberation struggle. In this instalment, he chronicles one of the memorable battles he was involved in.

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Q: After training where were you deployed?

A: I was first deployed to the Gaza province.

Whilst there, I rose through the ranks to become a detachment commander. I was in Sector 2. In Gaza, I operated from 1976 to around 1978. After Gaza province, I also worked in different parts of the country, including the Midlands and Matabeleland provinces, in areas such as Mberengwa, Buchwa and Matopos, from 1978 to 1979, until the ceasefire.

However, it was in Gaza where I carried out most of my operations.

Q: Tell us about your experiences in Gaza.

A: As you recall, I specialised in artillery. We carried out many operations in that province, attacking the enemy.

Our tasks also involved going to Mozambique to collect war materials, that is, the ammunition for battle.

Once the materials were in place, you would then plan, like saying this is enough material to carry out a specific number of attacks, depending on the weapons available.

In my group, we used the M90 machine gun quite efficiently. This was a powerful weapon that could decimate the enemy.

We also used it strategically. For example, you could not use the M90 to attack a small group of enemy forces.

You had to use the M90 when the enemy forces were in large numbers.

We were involved in many battles.

Unfortunately, I can’t remember all of them because of old age, but I do recall a good number.

Q: Which are some of the battles that you still recall?

A: One of the battles I remember the most was the Rutenga one, in the Nyanga area.

We attacked the Rutenga Camp in the morning whilst enemy forces were at a parade.

They were just about to be deployed and were not yet fully armed.

Our group comprised two sectors, that is, Sector 2 and Sector 3.

We eliminated about 60 enemy soldiers.

The M90 wiped them all.

Soon after launching the attack, there was no movement from their camp, as virtually all of them died.

Q: How did you plan and execute this attack for it to be so destructive to the enemy?

A: Our victory was firstly because of the power of the weapon and also because of the strategy we implemented.

What happened is that we got information that the Rhodesian forces were in the Rutenga area.

The povo and our informants — the mujibhas and chimbwidos — also played their part.

They were able to tell us about the enemy’s movements.

So, we knew what time they were going to the parade.

We knew that once they were at parade, they were vulnerable.

So, this was a huge victory for us and one of the battles I remember vividly.

Q: What happened in the immediate aftermath of this attack and did the enemy not retaliate?

A: We dispersed to our various points.

Remember, we had conducted this attack as Sector 2 and Sector 3, which were both under Gaza province.

Q: Who were some of the comrades whom you operated with in Gaza?

A: Some of the comrades I remember are Cde Hashaineni Dzungu, who was one of the commanders. I also worked with Cde Victor Chokuda.

There were many others, whose names I cannot immediately recall.

 

Next week, Cde Gavhu will recount the other battles he was involved in, including how his group decimated the dreaded Selous Scouts in Buchwa.