The story of Cde Charles Mukudu, aka Cde Dust

THE exploitation of Africans and the unbearable yoke of British colonial bondage forced me into politics.

The release of one of the late founding fathers, Cde Robret Mugabe, created the opportunity for me to go to war.

Working with comrades like Sidney Mahamba, Fair Chinyanga and Alfred Nyandoro, we hatched a plan to go and look for Cde Mugabe at his house in Cannan, Highfield, Harare, to seek his assistance to travel to Mozambique for military training.

Unfortunately, on that day, the former President was not home and his nephew booked an appointment for us to return two days later.

I was happy when I saw him for the first time.

Seeing Cde Mugabe during those days was difficult.

I was shocked by his modesty.

He greeted us with a cordial smile.

The moment was, for me, historic; meeting a leader of his magnitude and to have him personally facilitate our trip to Mozambique for military training was surreal!

The late Cde Mugabe told us to board his Peugeot 404 which had been donated to him by the Asian community and he drove us to town.

As we approached Southerton Police Station, a Rhodesian army truck passed us, going in the opposite direction, and the former President alluded to us that these Rhodies were the enemies we were going to fight upon our deployment from training.

He went on to narrate the evils of the colonialists and the dehumanisation of Africans by the interlopers. 

The man was indeed an orator; he spoke all the way without repeating his statements. In town, he drove to Kaguvi Street to his young brother’s office who worked for a certain trade union.

He left us in the car and went to Albert’s office for a brief meeting.

After his confidential meeting, we drove back to Highfield and stopped at Caltex Service Station where Asian aid was received. 

The late African icon, Cde Mugabe, gave us the address of the late Morris Nyagumbo and told us that he was the one who would facilitate our journey to Mozambique before he dropped us in Highfields.

I was happy to have been driven by our leader; that alone made me feel important.

My next encounter with him was in Mozambique at our Seguransa Military Base when he was in the company of Cde Edgar Zivanai Tekere in 1975.

Word came while we were at the base that Cde Mugabe was on his way and in need of security personnel. Two cadres were sent to escort him from the boarder where he had been left by Chief Rekai Tangwena. He arrived at our camp around midday and we were all asked to gather at our assembly point.

Our leader, Cde Kanyau, introduced him to us but this was not my first acquaintance with him.

The former President addressed us. His speech was brief and in conclusion he said: “Tauya kuzofamba tese.”

He left the podium for Cde Tekere who burst into a song, “Chimurenga chakatanga paChinhoyi, ZANU yabvuma hondo, Smith uchazviona….”

His address fortified and gave us the strength to fight the liberation war to the end. 

He also gave us political orientation for the next two months we stayed together and he taught us that the war we were fighting was a protracted struggle.

Most important, he taught us the character of the enemy; how he never stops trying to annihilate us and how we must never stop fighting.

Hunger and starvation were challenges we faced head on with him.

I used to go into Mozambican villages with other recruits to source food we shared with the late founding father.

So many a time he would encourage us to soldier on, emphasising that our sacrifices would not be in vain.

Compiled by Jacob Sigauke.