The story of Cde Emmanuel Matutu

THE news I woke up to after the bombing of the BP Shell tanks by ZANLA Forces on November 11 1978 was the sweetest I had heard in a long time.
I was so excited by this brave and daring act that my wife warned me not to be ‘too excited’ as doing so might invite some trouble.
In appreciation of this heroic act that sent shivers down the spine of every Rhodesian, we decided to kill four goats and 10 chickens for the comrades who were operating in our area to celebrate.
Freedom fighters operating in our area included comrades Farai Muhondo, Mabhunu Achamhanya, Andrew Musango and Chabhenda Chabhenda, among others.
I was on the radar of the infamous Selous Scouts who operated under the command of former MDC treasurer Roy Bennett after I sent my two sons Moregood and Cain to Salisbury (Harare) to live with my sister and evade the mass and forced recruitment by the Auxiliary forces.
I took my axe and set off for Cheutsi Mountain, alone, to fetch firewood to be used at the pungwe meeting.
Cheutsi Mountain was about two kilometres away from my homestead in Cheza Village under Chief Chinamora.
The weather was calm and the Christmas beetles were busy singing their songs of praise for the rains which were close to falling.
The weather was favourable for cutting firewood and I fell two musasa trees in less than an hour.
However, I was interrupted by the sound of an approaching jeep.
As I looked down the mountain I was shocked to see ‘Muzezuru’, as they called Bennett, and four Rhodesian African Rifle soldiers.
I instantly knew this was the beginning of trouble.
I thought of running away, but it was too late.
Muzezuru knew me as the man who had sent his sons away so that they would not join the Auxiliary forces.
He greeted me with a hard thunderous clap.
I had been sold out that I was a staunch supporter of the liberation struggle and was spearheading the celebrations of the now famous Salisbury attack.
The interrogation soon started on that mountain.
I was thrown and rolled down for about 10 metres before I was forced into the jeep and driven to Makumbe Mission where Muzezuru had his torturing base.
By this time, I was bleeding all over my body, but felt numb.
I fainted on my way to Makumbe Hospital which was about eight kilometres from our homestead, but it took us several hours as the jeep collected other victims from Mujeki and Chirimuta Villages.
I gained consciousness after some water was poured on me and that was when I saw Dennis Samukange from Mujeki Village, Farai Rukwambaire and some other three men who said they had been apprehended in Maringohwe Village.
I was asked details of the operations of vanamukoma in our area.
I professed ignorance which resulted in more beatings.
I was instructed to open my mouth and Muzezuru spat into my mouth.
My heart beat faster when I saw a chimbwido who was caught taking sadza to freedom fighters at a base in Govera Village.
Her whole body was dripping blood from injuries sustained during interrogation.
I felt pity for the woman who was in her mid-50s, but there was nothing I could do to help.
Fear gripped me as I saw the woman electrocuted.
I was told I was next.
I was put in a dark room with no window that had a thick odour of blood.
My eyes locked with those of the woman.
I could tell she hoped I would do something to save her from her ordeal.
I will forever live with the agony of seeing that woman fainting in pain and I being helpless.
I was next in line for the torture.
All I can say is electrical shock is something I never want to experience again.
I actually lost my mind and I don’t know what I ended up telling Muzezuru and his soldiers.
I was relieved when I woke up in the morning to find myself in a hospital bed.
I don’t know why and who took me to the hospital.
I was discharged after two weeks, but I never recovered from the injuries of that torture.
Kubva ipapo ndakabva ndaremara makumbo zvekuti vanhu vakabva vanditumidza zita rekuti ‘Mugweje’.
Compiled by Emergencey Mwale-Kamtande