THE film ZANLA Comes to Town: Part Two, a story of courage, skill and bravery, documenting the mission by a ZANLA crack unit to cripple Rhodesians, won the Best Film and Best Director awards at the just-ended Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF).
A production of Zimbabwe Heritage Trust (ZHT), the film is one of the few produced in the country telling the story of the liberation struggle from the perspective of the actual fighters.
The film was produced and directed by veteran Masimba Musarira, Ashwin Sikereta (line producer/director), Edgar Mwandiambira (photography/assistant director) and Cuthline Tavagwisa (editor).
The film does not only tell a story, but emphasises the importance of giving a voice to the fighters, the victors of the struggle.
Much that has been produced about the struggle has mostly been from the perspective of the vanquished, the Rhodesians.
“Usually history is told by the victors and also during the struggle, the Rhodesians enjoyed the limelight as they were in charge of the media, both radio and television,” said Musarira.
“We gained independence and it is now the blackman who is ruling, therefore, we should tell our own story as the victors.”
Musarira dismissed sentiments that the story had come out late, citing that history could never be late.
“If it is late, then it is better to be late than never,” he said.
For example, the Americans, he said, were still making films about the Vietnam War and ‘we are also doing the same, telling the story of our liberation struggle’.
ZANLA Comes to Town: Part Two is a continuation of the first instalment which shows the brave combatants bombing the BP and Shell fuel depots in Salisbury’s (Harare) Southerton industrial area on December 11 1978.
Part two focuses on the retreat of the combatants to the rear in Mozambique.
“It took us a year to come out with this fabulous piece of work,” said Musarira.
“There was a lot of research and consultation that was involved in the making of the film and the awards are not a surprise.”
With the use of expert analysts, the film clearly shows an intelligent synthesis of accounts of the participants and those who observed, analysed and initiated from outside the country.
It (the film) captures the essence of this defining moment of the liberation struggle.
It is important to note that both ZANLA Comes to Town, Part One and Two are rich in historical information, painting in vivid tones the BP and Shell fuel depot bombings.
What is unique in the films is the featuring of the actual participants of the attack and in a way, this dismisses claims by some comrades who have been falsely arrogating to themselves responsibility for the successful mission.
Key figures in the execution of the mission, Air Marshal Perence Shiri, the then Provincial Commander of Tete Province, Cde Member Kuvhiringidza, Cde Lobo, Cde Take Time, Cde Nhamo Mukumbuzi and Cde State Mudzvanyiriri, narrate how they executed the attack.
Collaborators who include Mbuya Hwiza, Mai Muhwati, Mai Mverechena, Norman Hwiza, Nancy Mupfururirwa, Jeremiah Chipwanya and Zuva Nyika explain and describe how they aided the fighters.
“The combatants carried out this mission when they were very young and were fortunate enough to survive the war and giving personal accounts of the operation enriched the production,” said Musarira.
The personal accounts enable one to get firsthand information as well as the feelings and emotions of the fighters.
Using additional information and clips from the National Archives, Ministry of Information and the national broadcaster ZBC, the makers of the film produced a convincing production.
Part one and two are critical productions that are setting the record straight and doing away with distortions of the struggle.
Musarira, the director, said the film had opened up avenues for production of action films depicting the country’s liberation struggle.
“The necessary research has been done already, leaving room for coming up with concepts that lead to an action movie,” he said.
Musarira said there were plans to attend regional film festivals and showcase Zimbabwe’s story, especially in countries that share the liberation struggle ethos.
Meanwhile, the director said more productions were being made and would be out soon. One of them will be titled Legends of Zimbabwe’s Chimurenga War.