The story of Cde Solomon Gonye
aka ‘Guy One’

TOWARDS the end of the winter of 1977, I participated in the attack of a Rhodesian military camp which was in Gonarezhou Game Park.
The camp was about 15 kilometres away from the Mozambican boarder.
The attack was planned at Chiqualaquala Base which was under the command of Cde Gabarinocheka.
Our company of 150 combatants was made up of freshly trained guerrillas from Morogoro, Tanzania and Tembwe, Mozambique.
On July 18 1977 an emergency whistle was blown and we swiftly rushed to the parade ground where we awaited orders.
The base commander Cde Gabarinocheka instructed us to leave and go to Malvernia town.
We boarded a train, with our arms and in three hours we were in Malvernia.
We proceeded to a FRELIMO camp where we were addressed by Cde Happison Muchechetere alias Cde Harry Tanganeropa the commander of Gaza Province.
Cde Tanganeropa was flanked by Cde Paradzayi Zimondi alias Cde Tonderai Nyika.
Cde Tonderai Nyika was to command the attack.
The FRELIMO soldiers were also on a mission to attack Villa Salasa which is adjacent to the border, but on the Mozambican side.
The attacks were planned the same day and same time which resulted in the name, Zero Hour Battle.
We were divided into three platoons of 50 guerillas.
The camp would be attacked with heavy artillery.
My platoon’s firepower consisted of recoils, a heavy machine gun, mortar 82, a bazooka, a light machine gun and six mortar 60s.
As guerrillas we did not have vehicles and we carried the heavy artillery on our backs.
Each platoon was to carry and safeguard its artillery to and from the battlefield.
The attack besides seeking to dislodge the enemy from near our environs was meant to prepare us for the warfront.
At around 5pm a signal was given for us to assemble and prepare for the journey to the enemy camp.
We waited for darkness to envelope us.
At around 7pm we began the journey.
Quietly and swiftly under the cover of darkness, we moved into Gonarezhou Game Park.
The journey was arduous, the artillery was heavy.
The recoils rifle was the heaviest and was carried by two people for a distance of two kilometres and another pair would takeover.
As we got closer to the target our commander Cde Tonderai Nyika and his lieutenants left us for spot reconnaissance.
It was now around 12 midnight and there was an eerie silence, only owls could be heard hooting.
We kept still as per order.
I was nervous.
This would be my first major battle.
At around 2. 30am, we advanced to the target and mounted our artillery.
We took positions and waited for the order to start firing.
At exactly 3am Cde Tonderai Nyika instructed the recoils riffle gunner to open fire.
There was a huge boom sound.
I physically felt the sound.
The target was hit with the first booze signalling the attack.
Bazookas, mortars, light and heavy machine guns joined the action.
There was a huge smoke as the tracer bullets lit up the grass surrounding the camp.
The commander ordered us to stop firing as the fire would jeopardise our hit and run strategy.
And he wanted to ascertain the positions of the enemy who had begun to return fire.
Two sentinel posts fired back with NATO machine guns.
We were ordered to resume firing and we took out the sentinels.
After about 10 minutes we were given the order to advance into the camp.
We had caused great damage.
We got into camp and captured many FN rifles, one Rhodesian flag, a radio communication control box and a walkie-talkie receiver.
We retreated at around 5am.
The enemy spotter jet spotted us and we made a hasty retreat and hid the recoils in the bush.
Fortunately vigilant FRELIMO soldiers who were in the area fired at the spotter jet and it stopped tracking us.
We then took our recoils and went to our gathering point at Malvernia.
At the gathering point, Cde Tonderai Nyika showed us the seized weapons from the Rhodesians.
We celebrated.
Compiled by Emergencey Mwale-Kamtande