‘We spotted Rhodesian soldiers dropping their recc unit’

WE continue our interview with Cde Miller Mlilo pseudonym Cde Masotsha Nkiwane, a former Battalion Medical Officer for ZPRA’s First Battalion. In our last edition Cde Mlilo, now a Zanu-PF councillor for Ward 23 in Bubi District,

Matabeleland North Province told our Assistant Editor Mkhululi Sibanda (MS) how they left Mlungushi Camp in Zambia for deployment along the Zambezi River. Below he continues his narration. Read on . . .

MS: Cde Mlilo in our last edition you were talking about your arrival where your base had been identified and that a member of your advanced reconnaissance unit had been captured. So you still went ahead and based there with the possibility that the unlucky comrade might spill the beans when subjected to heavy torture by the enemy.

Cde Mlilo: We realised that it was not possible that our area of deployment was compromised because the unlucky comrade, Magobisa was captured before they identified and agreed on the base. The recc unit was still on its way so the command element ordered them to push forward. At that time ZPRA had two-way radios so communication with the rear was not that difficult. We had an advanced communication system. So like I was saying last time when we got to the intended base, we started setting up our things like laying the communication lines and trenching our defence pits. We deployed according to companies, we had three. I mentioned the commanders of those companies last time. The anti-air weapons and other artillery pieces under the artillery unit commanded by Cde Mahewu were deployed in an elevated position. The battalion had deployed near some gorges. We had our OPs that were observation points there.

MS: So when you go there which you said was at night, what did you immediately do?

Cde Mlilo: On our first night we started digging trenches and cutting down trees to fortify our shelters. During the day we would lie low to avoid being detected by the enemy. On the second night, we carried on working on our shelters and we managed to finish. So it took us two nights to work on our shelters. We stayed for about a week without the enemy detecting our presence. However, our recc units would go out for patrols and there was a platoon that would be sent every day to also do patrols in case the enemy was making moves to attack us. As for the recc unit, it had its base that was a little distance from the rest of the battalion. They were not living with us. As for the rest of the deployment it stretched for more than a kilometre, but there                                                                                        were communication lines that linked with the

HQ where the commander, Cde Madliwa, now Major-General (Rtd) Stanford Khumalo was. We also had handsets for mobile communication.

MS: You said it took about a week for the Rhodesians to detect your presence. How did that happen?

Cde Mlilo: Our fighting with the enemy took five days. So on the first day, the Rhodesians were on a recc mission and their recc unit was dropped by two helicopters and that was between 6AM and 7AM. While the enemy was doing all that, they were being watched by our own recc guys. Our reconnaissance unit then communicated with the HQ and gave directions to where the enemy was deploying. Madliwa then ordered the artillery guys to take action. Working on the information given by the reconnaissance unit they sent mortar bombs where the enemy was. They missed the Rhodesians by a whisker. The Rhodesians in panic quickly boarded their choppers and fled. They had been shocked by the firepower. Madliwa then told commanders that we should be ready for a Rhodesian onslaught, but there was no follow-up attack or response by the Rhodesians on that day. So salala kunjalo. We were all alert on that day. The following morning Cde Madliwa ordered that a platoon under the command of Cde Mvuti should go for a clearance exercise of the area. The clearance exercise is when the soldiers would be assessing and checking the movement of the enemy. Cde Mvuti’s platoon then had contact with the enemy and unfortunately, Mvuti was shot in that ensuing contact. We did not recover his body. Madliwa then ordered that

Cde Cobra also be sent  with a platoon to go and recover the body if possible but they returned empty-handed. Later on, on the same day that is the second day of fighting about six or seven helicopters descended on us but they met stiff resistance from our anti-air unit. It became difficult for them to reach our positions because they were greeted with heavy firepower.

They then flew away. The battalion had been armed with four Zegues and the anti-air comrades were doing an excellent job. When we thought we had dealt with the choppers three or four jets swooped on us. They unleashed heavy missiles but they were not accurate as again there was heavy resistance from our anti-air guys.

MS: So where would you be when the bombing was taking place?

Cde Mlilo: When the aircrafts approached we would all except the anti-air comrades dive into our trenches or shelters, leaving the anti-air comrades dealing with the Rhodesian planes. However, after the air-crafts had left the infantry guys would come out to deal with the ground forces. Most of the infantry comrades had been trained at Mlungushi by the Zambians while we had a few who had been trained at camps in Angola and others in Zambia such as Mwembeshi and

CGT. Those who were trained at other camps, especially in guerilla warfare like myself had joined the battalions as attachments. I can say the infantry was a well-oiled machine and they had been kept at Mlungushi for some time, so for a long time they had been itching for battle. The battle then provided them with an opportunity to showcase their pedigree and they didn’t disappoint. The infantry was also well armed because each section was armed with two machine guns, an

RPK and RPD as well as a bazooka. The rest were AK-47s. However, when dealing with ground forces, heavy anti-tank weapons such as B10s were turned onto the enemy and they caused a lot of damage.

MS: So how effective were you in parrying off the enemy? Did you manage to assess your success?

Cde Mlilo: The Rhodesians were very good in recovering their casualties and that would leave one guessing. However, in this particular battle, we were very happy to find limbs of the Rhodesian forces such as an arm stuck onto trees and blood splattered on the vegetation. At some point, the comrades brought limbs of Rhodesian white soldiers found hanging on trees. They were taken to the commander, Madliwa. That was inspiring because we knew that they were not invincible after all.

MS: When all this fighting was taking place where was the battalion commander?

Cde Mlilo: Madliwa was operating from his underground office as we had an efficient communication system. He was issuing orders andwas totally in charge of the situation. As his subordinates, we were impressed with his tactical ability and bravery. Also at a personal level he earned my respect during that period. He was a commander par excellence as he handled the situation very  well.

His anticipation and decision-making were top-notch. There was a platoon that was embedded to the commander, that platoon was in charge of his security. It was commanded by now National Hero, Cde Cain Nkala whose pseudonym was called Cde Phandasi.

To be concluded next week.