By Victor Tatenda Mutyambizi

I AM proud to be an offspring of a dedicated freedom fighter, Gilbert Mutyambizi alias Gidza Mukanya who became a political activist at the age of 13.
My father was born in 1953 in Mhondoro and grew up in Bulawayo in the township of Mzilikazi, where his father was working at Dunlop Tyres.
In 1965 when he was doing his Standard 6 at Lobengula Primary School fees were raised forcing my father and other schoolboys to protest against the oppressive system that sought, at every turn, to make life difficult for blacks.
The protest resulted in the schoolchildren being arrested and experiencing firsthand the brutality of Ian Smith.
The boys were ruthlessly caned.
In 1971 my father went to Kutama Mission where he did his Form 1 and 2 before he dropped out of school as his father could no longer afford to pay the fees required.
He got a job at Bulawayo Municipality, where he worked for two years before he was retrenched.
In 1974 he joined the Ministry of Roads and was posted to Mutoko, where he got an extra $5 on payday because the area was a war zone.
It was in Nyamapanda that my father first participated in the liberation struggle for Zimbabwe.
My father told me he was introduced to Cde Peter Mabhunu, Cde Peter Gurupira, Cde Cephas Chimedza, Cde Josiah and Cde Patrick Mupunzarima by his workmate Anthony who was a collaborator.
The guerrillas asked my father to gather information for them which he tactfully did for the whole of 1973.
After a year of assisting through collaboration he decided to cross the Nyamapanda Border and go for military training in Mozambique.
My father said he crossed the border during daytime and was given refuge by Frelimo soldiers while he waited for ZANLA fighters to pick him up.
After three days of waiting, Cde Gurupira came with other guerillas and took my father to Changara Base Camp, where he met other four recruits.
The other four recruits were Bensen Musendekwa, Ugly Ndiriwani, Barabas Chadehumbe and Petros and after a week they proceeded to Mutengamariwo Base Camp.
Later they went to Seguransa Military Base where interrogations were the order of the day, they were carried out to ascertain that the recruits were genuine individuals that wanted to help and not spy for Rhodesians.
My father said the base was a point of elimination where real patriotic fighters were selected and sellouts were caught.
He stayed at Seguransa for 3 months and then proceeded to Zambia where they learnt of the death of Cde Hebert Chitepo in one of the Zambian villages.
And my father and some comrades were unfortunately arrested by Zambian soldiers for allegedly being involved in the assassination of Chitepo.
They were taken to Petauke Prison where they were detained for 2 months.
After the 2 months they were transferred to Lusaka Prison where they met some of the ZANLA leadership, Cde Kangai and Cde Webster Shamu.
They spent 18 months at the prison.
During the entire time my father was never interrogated.
The prisoners were released after the Geneva Talks, which involved President Robert Mugabe.
After his release my father went to Tembwe Military Base popularly known as Chikoro Chehondo, which was commanded by Cde Sarudzai Muhondo, a brave female fighter.
During the training my father specialised on the 75 mm recoilless rifle.
Upon completion of training my father was posted to Chimoio Camp where he taught recruits how to use the 75 mm rifle.
It was during this time that Chimoio was bombed and a counter attack, in which my father was part of, was arranged.
My father together with other153 guerillas under the command of Paradzai Zimhondi alias Tonderai Nyika and Augastine Chihuri alias Adam Chocha attacked one of the Rhodesian main bases, the Grand Reef.
The mission was successful and no guerilla died and only three that included my father were injured.
After that battle my father went to Romania where he trained in military communications.
On return to Mozambique my father was attached to Marizhondo near Chimoio.
My father went on to participate in one of the most famous battles during the war, the Battle of Mavhonde.
After the war my father continued serving the nation in the national army and retired in 1993.
I am proud of my father’s exploits during the war and wish youths of today emulate and have the spirit that infused the youths that participated in the liberation struggle.