We had our pass-out parade under the cover of darkness

WE continue our interview with Lieutenant-Colonel (Rtd) Alson Masilinge Muleya, a freedom fighter who was trained as an officer cadet at Kohima in Zambia. Last week Lt-Col (Rtd) Muleya told our Assistant Editor Mkhululi Sibanda (MS) that the Zambian government had to send the media on a wild goose chase about the 95 graduating ZPRA officers to avoid publicity about the event. The Zambian government and the ZPRA security systems had also picked intelligence that the Rhodesians were planning to attack the graduating officers during the pass-out parade. The reviewing officer at the pass-out parade was then Zambian President and Commander-In-Chief, Cde Kenneth Kaunda. Today Lt-Col (Rtd) Muleya continues his narration. Below are excerpts from the interview. Read . . .

MS: In our previous instalment you were talking about threats to bomb you by the Rhodesians during your pass-our parade. Take us through what happened.

Lt-Col (Rtd) Muleya: Yes I was talking about the threats of being bombed by the Rhodesians during our pass-out parade. Like I said because we were officer cadets the occasion was supposed to be graced by the Zambian Head of State and Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces, in that case, Dr Kenneth Kaunda. As the Commander-In-Chief he is the one who was supposed to commission us. So in a bid to avoid the media capturing guerillas at a pass-out parade in Zambia the Press was sent on a wild goose chase, and sold a dummy that the event would be at Mlungushi Rock. However, we were told that instead of the next day, we were going to have our pass-out parade in the evening of that day. So we had our pass-out parade under the cover of darkness at Kohima. 

MS: Did Dr Kaunda attend?

Lt-Col (Rtd) Muleya: Yes, yes he was there, so was our own Commander-In-Chief and Zapu President, Cde Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.  We were commissioned as second lieutenants, which is the international standard consistent with the training of cadet officers. 

MS: Among the 95 of you, who was named the best recruit?

Lt-Col (Rtd) Muleya: The best recruit was Cde Carlos Mudzingwa with Cde Barberton coming second. Interestingly Carlos Mudzingwa went on to become the frontal commander of the Southern Front that covered the whole of Matabeleland South, Midlands, Masvingo and ideally was to stretch up to Manicaland. When he was re-assigned from the Southern Front, he was succeeded by Barberton. Barberton is living in the United Kingdom. After our pass-out parade we were moved to the Freedom Camp (FC). However, I should mention that during our training as officer cadets, we once visited Mlungushi where our regular troops were receiving their training. It was a way of familiarizing us with the troops that we were meant to command after completing our training. When we got to FC we were given a place to stay that was close to big mango trees and the camp clinic was close by. However, we were at FC for a few days as we were quickly moved, with some of us going to CGT2, emagojini. CGT2 was in the Chipata Region of Zambia.  The reason why we were moved from FC was because of the threats of the Rhodesians bombing the camp. It seems the Rhodesians were after us. As anticipated FC was bombed on 19 October 1978. On the same day the Rhodesians went to bomb Mkushi, which was a cantonment for the female guerillas. After the bombing at FC we went back there briefly and I was shocked to see the damage that was made by the Rhodesian forces. I looked for the big mango trees, but they were not there. They had been razed to the ground. Up to now, I believe the Rhodesians were after us, the Kohima group. They wanted to destroy our squad that had been trained as officers. In that bombing, we lost Cde Chishamba Pote, who after Kohima had been deployed to FC as a logistics officer. In fact, before we were moved to Kohima we met Dr Nkomo and it was clear in his talk that he had been briefed by our intelligence units that the 95 Kohima graduates were wanted dead by the Rhodesians.

MS: Tell us about the CGT2.

Lt-Col (Rtd) Muleya: When we got to the CGT2 the commander was Cde Mugabe and there were many guerillas there. The guerillas had been trained at different places, some coming from Angola where they had been trained by the Cubans. The comrades from Angola had been trained in advanced guerilla warfare.  At CGT2 the troops were well deployed and well-armed with heavy artillery pieces. A company of Angolan trained troops was then placed under my command. We had another camp, CGT1 which if I am not mistaken was about 10km from ours. Later on, we were called to FC where I was given a platoon together with Cde Albert Nderezina who also was made platoon commander. We were then deployed as a detachment with Cde VC as the detachment commander. 

MS:  You spoke of CGT2 as a fortified camp, please tell us more about it.

LT-Col (Rtd) Muleya: Like I said it was well-defended and the terrain also helped. I was there when a Rhodesian fighter jet was brought down. 

To be concluded next week when Lt-Col (Rtd) Muleya talks about his operations in Binga and Lupane areas.