HomeOld_PostsPresident Mugabe and the Altena connection

President Mugabe and the Altena connection

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THE best of President Robert Mugabe was during his passionate narration of the liberation struggle at Chipadze Stadium last Friday.
His speech permeated deep into the minds of the gathered capacity.
Then there was that one moment which could have left distorters of this country’s history, especially those in Government, with smirk on their faces: the Altena Farm attack that signalled the opening of the north-eastern front.
What had become of Altena Farm, he asked.
“Zvavambira kupi? Kupurazi riya rinonzi Altena Farm,” said President Mugabe.
“Hameno kuti papurazi ipapo pane zvatakaita here kana zvatirikuita kuti tive nemufananidzo wekuti pane chiyeurudzo chekuti mangwana toti tazoenda vadiki vedu vanenge vachiudzwa kuti pano apa ndipo pakavamba chaizvo izvo usandu hwekurwisa mabhunu.”
At Chipadze Stadium, President Robert Mugabe rolled the welcome mat for Zimbabwean historians and Government officials and challenged them to do something about this critical component of the country’s history.
Bob Marley taught us in his song ‘No woman no cry’ that in this great future, you can’t forget your past.
There will be no wondering how we sometimes lose control of our history as a country; quite simply, we have stood back and allowed it to slip through our fingers and minds.
There are times in our recent past when it is hard not to rewind to Morgan Tsvangirai’s malicious declaration against ZANU PF and the liberation struggle.
The MDC leader once infamously declared, “Idzorerei kwamakaitora nyika iyoyo, tinonoisunungura (take Zimbabwe back to colonial bondage, we will free it).
If there was any reminder of the blatant disregard that some in our midst have for the liberation struggle, they needed to look no further than that now infamous statement by the perpetually out-of-sorts Tsvangirai.
Yet those who are supposed to be custodians of that struggle find it easy to forget to give honour to historic sites such as Altena Farm.
It is befuddling and disappointing.
Perhaps another lecture on the Zimbabwe liberation war, especially in the context of Altena Farm, will bring some sense into minds of those who are supposed to be custodians of this struggle.
The decisive moment of the second phase of the liberation struggle began on December 21 1972 at Altena Farm under what is known as the ‘North-Eastern Offensive’.
Below is a narrative of the onslaught drawn from Wikipedia.
“The attack on Altena Farm occurred in the early hours of December 21 1972, during the third phase of the Rhodesian Bush War.
“Altena was a tobacco farm owned by Marc de Borchgrave, a white Rhodesian landowner who was unpopular among the local civilians.
“Some sources have indicated that this marked the beginning of the conflict proper, despite the minor threat already represented by guerrilla movements in Rhodesia in the mid and late 1960s.
“Having established a presence in the nearby Chiweshe Tribal Trust Territory, a cadre of Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) insurgents armed with AK-47s, hand grenades and at least one light machine gun (most likely an RPD) trekked about six miles to reach Altena.
“A list of white farmers in the Centenary district was drawn up and de Borchgrave was marked for elimination due to his poor reputation among black farmworkers.
“Farmers known for their popularity in the workforce were also identified and removed from the list of potential targets.
“Cadre leader Rex Nhongo (Solomon Mujuru) planned to carry out the attack and observe follow-up operations carried out by the Rhodesian Security Forces.
“Around 3am, the guerillas cut the telephone lines and laid a landmine in the driveway.
“Nhongo undertook a reconnaissance of the farmhouse before the attack commenced.
“Each insurgent then expended at least two magazines of ammunition apiece at the structure.
“Hand grenades were also thrown.
“Despite the damage caused to the structure, only de Borchgrave’s daughter was injured.
“Deducing that Nhongo may have mined the driveway, de Borchgrave set off on foot to seek assistance.
“The insurgents retreated, burning down what they believed to be a white-owned store during the withdrawal.
“Rex Nhongo was later stopped and questioned by some members of the British South African Police, but as his identity documents were in order and he had concealed his weapons, he was not detained.”
There is no doubt the story of the liberation struggle cannot be fully told without highlighting the significance of Altena Farm.
In the same vein, something must surely be done to this great place.
It must be declared a liberation war historic site.
This is a story that future generations must never miss.
It is our history.
It is our story, our past, present and our future.
Let those with ears listen.

1 COMMENT

  1. As usual you have the history incorrect here.
    Marc de Borchgrave and his wife were sleeping in the packing sheds but this was not known by Rex Nhongo as not even the de Borchgrave’s servants knew this. The reason they were in the packing sheds was because his mother was staying with them for Christmas and she was sleeping in the main bedroom. Marc ran through the bush on hearing the attack to get help from neighbours, the grandmother drove the children out of the farm in the old Land Rover to neighbors, missing the land mine by inches. The de Borchgrave daughter was only injured in the attack on Whistlefields Farm a couple of nights later. I was at Boxing Day lunch at the Whistlefield Farm as the owners were friends of my parents.

    Please get your history correct while you still have people alive who were there when it happened.

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