and Shingirirai Mutonho

THERE is an untold war story in Mberengwa.
During the liberation struggle, Mberengwa fell under Gaza Province which also encompassed other areas from Chiredzi to Kariba.
The Patriot was recently in Mberengwa and came face-to-face with ‘forgotten’ freedom fighters whose stories have never been documented.
And this is the tragedy we face; not telling our stories and waiting for Rhodesians to distort our history through thousands of books and films.
To date, former Rhodesian soldiers continue to publish books glorifying a bush war they eventually lost and yet guerillas, mujibhas, chimbwidos and the povo who took part in the liberation war are slowly dying; their stories untold.
Isn’t this tragic?
If the remaining war veterans do not put pen to paper to narrate their war experiences, future generations are surely going to dismiss this country’s liberation war as a myth.
That is why this intriguing story in Mberengwa must be told.
Popular Chinese military general Sun Tzu wrote in his book The Art of War: “All warfare is based on deception.”
And it is this principle of deception that saved two Second Chimurenga cadres; Cdes Sando Kano and Dr Zu Tichatonga after being captured by Rhodesian forces on September 30 1978 at Madhafu Base in Chief Nyamhondo’s area, Mberengwa.
In a rare feat, the two commanders who were operating in the sprawling Gaza Province were captured, but escaped from the claws of the enemy.
They recounted their story to The Patriot. It was shortly after an airstrike at Madhafu Base that the two were captured.
The air-raid was in retaliation to the successful attack by guerillas on Mataga Base, belonging to Rhodesian forces and that of Auxiliary forces in Mawarire Village.
Comrades Sando Kano and Dr Zu Tichatonga took part in both attacks, leaving them on Rhodesia’s ‘most wanted list’.
“We were spotted by Rhodesian soldiers from an observation point as we were coming from Chirovandoro Village going back to our Base,” said Cde Sando Kano.
“On our way I saw a female ground hornbill (dendera) moving reflexively and instantly, I knew this was a bad omen.
“As I walked towards a boulder where I usually rested, a spotter jet flew past the base.”
Despite it being a surprise attack, Cde Sando Kano said together with fellow fighters they reacted swiftly and fired back at the enemy.
The airstrike was described by Mhonda villagers as horrific.
Julia Zhou who used to cook for freedom fighters said four helicopters flew over Mpapa homestead and people panicked.
There was mayhem, she said.
“The helicopters dropped teargases on areas close to Rufungaugwe, Shavahuru, Remiti and Chomupawa mountains which surrounded Chief Nyamhondo’s area,” said Zhou.
“There was an intense battle after that.”
Cde Sando Kano’s luck ran out when he ran out of ammunition.
“After running out of ammunition, I had options; to kill myself, surrender or try to escape,” said Cde Sando Kano.
“I decided to surrender and the Rhodesian soldiers apprehended me.”
After being captured the Rhodesian Forces could not believe him when he identified himself.
It was only after getting confirmation from a chimbwido that they believed they had captured one of their ‘most wanted terrorist’.
“Before I knew it I was handcuffed before I saw my compatriots Cde Dr Zu Tichatonga and Chauya Chinesu being brought to where I was,” said Cde Sando Kano.
“We were then taken to Ngundu Military Base by a helicopter where we were tortured for over an hour.”
Typical of Rhodies, they underestimated freedom fighters.
They thought by breaking their bones, they would break their spirit too.
The captured guerillas were given two options; to release information on operations of other comrades or die.
They were given 10 days to co-operate.
There it was, an opportunity for the cadres.
They had to hatch and execute an escape plan and failure was not an option.
“We were promised money, cars, houses, women and jobs in the Rhodesian government if we gave them (Rhodesian soldiers) information on other freedom fighters,” Dr Zu Tichatonga chipped in.
“Of course we could not betray the struggle.
“We knew we could capitalise on this and plan our escape so we agreed that we

would mislead them and show them abandoned bases to buy time.
“We left Ngundu in the company of nine Rhodesian soldiers and diverted routes for five days in Nyamhonda as we sought ways to communicate with the villagers that we needed help,” said Dr Zu Tichatonga.
“Through one mujibha, we communicated to fellow ZANLA fighters to change bases and positions of weapons.
“We employed tactics such as going against the odds in our interaction with the villagers so that they could see that we were in danger.”
Among the strategies employed by the captured freedom fighters was instructing villagers to bring blankets in broad daylight or making them taste food first before they ate.
On the fifth day, they crossed into Mwenezi and went to Chirongwe Village.
It was in Chirongwe Village where they managed to write a letter and gave it to one Faston Mandoga, a mujibha, to take to a nearby base.
“We wrote a letter to Cde Willie Mazarura asking him to come and attack our base so that we escape in the process,” said Dr Zu Tichatonga.
After handing over the letter, the freedom fighters knew their plan had to work or else they would be doomed.
Mandonga confirmed to The Patriot that he was indeed given the letter.
“It took us three hours to reach the next base and after handing the letter to Cde Mazarura, he told us to go home, our duty was done,” said Mandonga.
“We had to give them directions to the base.”
Having received the distress call, Cde Mazarura did not waste time.
“I blew my emergency whistle and my comrades swiftly reacted,” said Cde Mazarura.
“I informed them about the letter and we planned the attack.
“Together with Cdes Sugar Sugar MuZimbabwe, Sandos Muranda, Lobo Tapfumanei and six others, we walked for 30 kilometres to rescue our fellow comrades.”
Upon reaching the base they realised a pungwe was in session.
There were a few Rhodesian soldiers who had painted their faces black to disguise themselves as comrades.
“I ordered my comrades to fire in the air because there were civilians,” said Cde Mazarura.
There was great confusion as villagers ran in panic.
“I knew we had achieved our mission and we went back,” said Cde Mazarura.
At that moment, the captured fighters made their move and fled the scene.
“I ran despite calls by the Rhodesians to fire my mortar 60 at Cde Mazarura and his colleagues,” said Cde Sando Kano.
“I rushed to a nearby shop where I met a girl who refused to assist me as she doubted my credibility since I had been captured by the Rhodesian Forces.
“She thought I was now working with the enemy.
“However, her father understood my plight and informed me that my fellow comrades had crossed Binya Road.”
Armed with information on where the other comrades were, Cde Sando Kano went to Vembe.
“It took me five hours to get to Vembe which was about 20 kilometres away where I met Cdes Rex Nhongo, Willie Dewetewe, Freddy Matanga and other freedom fighters and I briefed them about my escape,” Cde Sando Kano said.
As expected, the returning soldiers had to be thoroughly vetted.
“I was disarmed and after they were convinced that I had not been turned they cleared me to continue working with other freedom fighters,” said Cde Sando Kano.
“After two weeks, word was sent from Cde Josiah Tongogara instructing me to go to Mozambique.
“I was later sent to Yugoslavia for further military training and when I returned back home, was deployed in Manica Province.”
Dr Zu Tichatonga also went through the same vetting process by commanders and after he was cleared, he rejoined his counterparts in Gaza Province.
He served there until the ceasefire in 1979.
Cdes Sando Kano and Dr Zu Tichatonga’s story is just one of the many untold stories of the liberation war.
For the benefit of future generations, perhaps it is prudent for Zimbabwe Heritage Trust (ZHT) to quickly produce the documentary based on this true story just as they did with ZANLA Comes To Town.