The story of Cde Rephias Kugoda

I FOUGHT too many battles during the liberation war and some remain so vivid, especially those in which on hindsight one would have no idea how you walked away alive and had not become food for the vultures.
Guerrilla warfare was effective and it thoroughly frustrated the Rhodies, the hit and run strategy was highly effective.
However, there were times we would be attacked from the blue.
Such surprise attacks would usually happen after being sold out by some ‘comrades’ in our midst.
In 1978 I operated in Chesa Detachment which was under Chaminuka Sector that was under Tete Province.
Battles in the area were tough as Rhodesians had big bases in Shamva, Bindura and Mount Darwin that quickly deployed reinforcements.
One day, Cde Forbes, our section commander, decided that we attack Rhodesians along the Bindura Mount Darwin road.
The attack involved use of landmines that we planted in the road.
It was more of an ambush.
Rhodesians’ operations were intense in this area because it was a passage to Mozambique used by recruits that wanted to receive military training.
The planned attack was around the Bushu area.
I was with Cde Webster, Cde Forbes, Cde Shungu, Cde Sadza, Cde Dzungu, Cde Nobby and Cde Devil.
It was in December and on the dawn of Sunday, a few days before Christmas when we planted the land mines in the road.
The task of planting the landmines was carried out by Cde Devil who was our bomb expert.
The landmines were planted on the uphill part of the road.
The place was adjacent to a mountain where we had made camp.
We watched Cde Devil do what he knew best.
And in less than 10 minutes he was done.
It was 3.30 am and we impatiently waited for our ‘prey’ to come into our killing bag.
On this day things went according to plan, many times plans had to be altered.
A Rhodesian convoy appeared.
It was at exactly 6.15 am when this convoy of five vehicles drove into our killing bag from Mount Darwin.
We were on top of a mountain which provided us with a perfect firing position and the vegetation was lush providing perfect cover.
There was a mine detector clearing the road for four Rhodesian trucks full of soldiers.
We took positions.
Cde Webster had a mortar 60.
He was first to fire blasting the mine detector which was at the front.
The mine detector veered off the road.
Cde Webster fired a second booze and the Rhodesians were in trouble.
The Rhodesian convoy came to a halt and was in great panic.
Cde Forbes ordered us to fire.
We relentlessly fired at our enemy giving him no chance to return fire.
Cde Webster kept firing boozes at the Rhodesians’ trucks.
He delivered a booze to each truck, all got their share.
Cde Webster’s boozes created a huge blaze and smoke.
I feel the Rhodies did not return a single shot.
In less than 10 minutes we had dealt them a devastating blow.
We had no time to count the casualties and celebrate our victory as we swiftly left the battleground for we knew that reinforcements would soon come.
Our job was done.
It would be a strong message during the festive period that we had grown more powerful and were not stopping or giving up in our efforts to liberate the country.
Such an attack could not be easily dismissed by cheap propaganda.
The damage we were inflicting could not be disputed.
Inevitably the Rhodesians had no option, but to concede defeat.
Compiled by Emergencey Mwale-Kamtande