By Tendai Dumba

GONAREZHOU Game Reserve was one of the most dangerous places the comrades had to cross to and from Mozambique during the liberation struggle.
My father, Charles Dumba (Charlie Watts) was among the brave men who took the route to fulfil their mandate of liberating Zimbabwe.
In one incident that father will never forget, as they were walking in a single file one Cde Mannex stepped on a landmine and was torn to pieces.
With caution, the men continued with their march for days despite experiencing shortage of drinking water.
Father says it was hell on earth in Gonarezhou game reserve such that some comrades who could not endure like Cde Jongwe committed suicide.
They got out of the thick game reserve on the seventh day and entered Gezani area.
Father had become an assistant to Cde Zororo Duri who was the detachment security officer.
He says their first attack after coming out of Gonarezhou was at a certain household they entered asking for water.
It was also their skills and military tactics that resulted in their success, killing the enemy who followed them.
These men who were fighting for the liberation struggle went through hardships, but it was the zeal for freedom that kept them going.
When they got into Chifunyira area under the guidance of Cde Stopper, they had to survive by eating meat from the cattle they killed in the area.
They knew that killing the cattle could put them in great danger, but circumstances forced them to.
It was a luxury to eat sadza and other foods since they were not close to the villagers.
While in the Chifunyira area, they received information, ordering them to capture a whiteman who was to be used for propaganda in Mozambique.
Father says that they had to ambush the enemy for their mission to be successful.
They successfully hit one convoy and captured a journalist called John Canaan.
With John Canaan they started the great trek back to Mozambique.
On the third day John Canaan escaped when they were in the Matibhi area.
Word was sent to the Mujibhas around the area and within a few hours, John Canaan was back in the care of the Comrades.
They went back through Gonarezhou until they reached their destination.
Father became an assistant to the late Cde Charles Dhauramanzi when he got in Xai Xai, Mozambique.
They went together to Maputo where father was punished by one comrade after being caught reading a novel by James Hardley Chase.
However, he was rescued by the late Cde Robson Manyika who told other comrades that education was crucial for them and the future generations.
Father went back to operations in Manica Province until cease fire.
They heard the sad news about Cde Josiah Tongogara’s death and together with his friend Bongani, father decided to come back home.
They knew that it was the zenith of the liberation struggle and had to return home and celebrate with family and friends.
On their way back, my father who grew up in Mbare knew that his contribution was useful.
The two friends started selling clothes to get bus fare before boarding a bus which was ferrying Zimbabwean refugees from Mozambique.
This was a sign of the end of the hunger, sleepless nights and the war.
As they sat in the bus, Charlie Watts and Bongani knew that the end of war meant, taking back the land, safeguarding their heritage and owning the industries.
And as they entered the ‘Sunshine City’, Harare, father knew that Cde Webster Shamu’s influence had paid off.
Together with other comrades they had succeeded in bringing Zimbabwe back to the people.