ON July 4 1964 a group of freedom fighters ambushed and killed a Rhodesian, one Petrus Obertholtzrer, the then Melsetter (Chimanimani) Rhodesian Front branch chairman.
The Patriot tracked down one of the executors of the mission, Cde Edson Mzite-Tuli.
Cde Mzite-Tuli, now in his 80s, vividly recalls the details of the mission.
He was introduced to politics by his uncle, Ramlas Sibiya who lived in Mbare, the then Harare in 1963.
“My uncle Ramlas Sibiya introduced me to nationalistic politics and we used to attend meetings at Mai Musodzi Hall,” Cde Mzite-Tuli said.
“I was later arrested by Rhodesians for being a bad influence in Harare and was taken to Mafungausi-Nyaradza detention camp in Gokwe where I stayed for three months.”
During his time in detention he made the vow to fight the repressive regime.
Immediately after its formation in 1963, the ZANU leadership organised cadres to go for training.
The first group to be trained in 1963 was the Crocodile Group.
“The leadership of the party arranged for our training,” said Cde Mzite-Tuli.
“I left the country with Cde James Dhlamini and Cde Victor Mlambo, Cde William Ndangana, Cde Chidyamauyu, Cde John Bote and Cde Joseph Shasha.”
The group crossed the Zambian boarder via Chirundu assisted by one Cde Chaibva.
Cde Chaibva facilitated their travel to Tanzania and for three months, the group received their training at Nachingweya.
They were trained how to use explosives and petrol bombs, among other weapons.
Upon completion of training, the determined group came back via Zambia where they crossed Zambezi River using a canoe and walked to Kariba.
From Kariba, they hiked to the then Salisbury and went straight to Highfield.
“We chose to go and operate in Manicaland as it had the perfect terrain for guerrilla war and because we had little money, we experienced the usual hardships of lack of food and resources,” said Cde Mzite-Tuli.
The group was led by Cde William Ndangana and its first mission was to attack Nyanyadzi Police Station.
They attempted to blow the station with grenades and petrol bombs, but failed.
This failed mission alerted the enemy so staying in Nyanyadzi became risky since they were only seven and poorly armed.
In typical guerilla style, they ‘vanished’.
“We swiftly moved to Nhedziwa where we created a base in a mountain adjacent to Chimanimani Road,” said Cde Mzite-Tuli.
“We stayed there for a week before realising that the Melsetter Rhodesian branch chairman Petrus Obertholtzer attended meetings in Mutare twice a week.
“He would go in the morning at around 6am and return around 4pm.”
Thus the group planned to hit this prominent figure.
“It was a windy Wednesday on July 4 1964 and Petrus drove to Umtali and we definitely knew that he would come later that day,” recalled Cde Mzite-Tuli.
The ZANLA cadres spent the day strategising because their main objective was to send a ‘message’ to Ian Smith that Zimbabweans wanted their country back.
“We discussed various tactics and adopted the one suggested by Cde Ndangana that we block the road with big rocks and wait for our ‘prey’,” said Cde Mzite-Tuli.
The group laid the huge rocks on the road just before 4pm and just after 4pm, Cde Mzite-Tuli said they heard the sound of Obetholtzer’s Jeep.
Cde Mzite-Tuli said the jeep which was speeding suddenly came to a halt as it approached the‘road block’.
“Our prey had come into our killing bag,” he said.
“The giant Rhodesian came out of his Jeep shouting and cursing before he began removing the rocks.
“We came out of hiding and Cde Ndangana grabbed him by the neck and that was his end.
“We dragged him and put him into his jeep before we disappeared.”
Soon after the attack, the group separated and took different directions.
Cde William Ndangana, Cde Chidyamauyu, Cde John Bote and Cde Joseph Shasha went to Chikore where they met their chairman who financed and assisted them to go back to Zambia.
Cde Edson Mzite, Cde James Dhlamini and Cde Victor Mlambo went to Mount Selinda where they met Cde Madakadze who gave them money.
“We walked for about 12 hours and finally took a rest in Mabeye Village in Chipinge,” said Cde Mzite-Tuli.
He said they went to his brother’s homestead who later assisted them with transport and food.
“My brother drove us from Mabeye, where he operated a shop and dropped us at Southdown.
“From Southdown we walked for about five kilometres and took refuge at Cde Dhlamini’s abandoned homestead which was in the middle of his maize field.”
By now the hunt for the ‘murderers’ of Obertholtzer was on.
The Rhodesians advertised the manhunt and offered 1 000 pounds to anyone with information about the whereabouts of Ndangana’s group.
Unfortunately the group was sold out to the Rhodesians by Cde Dhlamini’s nephew who told his headmaster at Southdown Primary School about the presence of the group at his home.
Prior to the arrest, Cde Mzite-Tuli said he had dreamt the group being captured.
The legendary fighter said he told the dream to his fellow comrades, but they did not take it seriously.
“They never thought a relative would sell them out,” he said.
Cde Mzite-Tuli said one night he left the hut they were hiding soon after eating supper and went to a nearby bush to relieve himself.
It was during his ‘time’ in the bush when he saw the flash of the searching light.
“I kept still watching from a distance as the hut was swamped by the Rhodesian soldiers,” he said.
“I saw my fellow comrades being beaten and driven away by the Rhodies.
“I slowly and quietly crawled for some distance towards the east in the direction of Mount Selinda.
“I then started running to my brother’s shop in Mabeye who later drove me to Chibuwe where I hid.
“Mlambo and Dhlamini were later tried and hanged.
“Cde William Ndangana, Cde Chidyamauyu, Cde John Bote and Cde Joseph Shasha successfully managed to get to Zambia where they continued with the struggle.
“I escaped and hid for nearly two decades in Gokwe until the war ended in 1980.”
“And Cde Dlamini’s nephew never got the 1 000 pounds as promised by the Rhodies.”