The story of John Bukutu, aka Cde Roy Tichatonga

I WAS born John Peter Bukutu, in Rusape, at St Killian. My village of origin is Chikomwe, Rugoyi, in Makoni District. 

I joined the liberation struggle in 1976 when I was in secondary school at St Killian Mission. 

My decision to join the liberation was triggered by the influx of freedom fighters in our area whom we discovered when we were on school holidays. 

My friend Gilbert Mumera and I went to Nyariya (St James) to see the comrades one night and they vetted us. 

Meanwhile, our parents were in the dark. We stayed with the comrades for a week at Nyariya Base. By the time we were ready to go to Mozambique, Nyariya Base at Amberwell Farm was attacked by Rhodesian forces.

They (Rhodesians) were bitter because vanamukoma (freedom fighters) had earlier destroyed graders which were fixing the local road. 

The Rhodesian forces also brought a spotter plane and helicopters to attack Nyariya Base. 

We were told by the comrades to go back home because  Nyariya Base had been attacked. 

We made our way back home without any hindrance. 

When I got home, I heard that my mother was among the people who had been taken by the DA to Rugoyi Camp. They were, however, released the following day and she persuaded me to go back to school. 

My mother had escaped the wrath of the Rhodies after she had lied that I had gone to visit my brother who was working in Gweru. 

I went back to school but did not stay for long because, like most students, Mozambique was calling. 

We did not pay school fees which we were given by our parents; instead, we used the money for our expenses to Mozambique. 

Most students at Marist Brothers, St Michaels and St Charles Lwanga crossed into Mozambique in their numbers. 

It was on a Friday night when we left for Mozambique. There was a dance at school, hence we managed to leave unnoticed. 

We were eight boys and eight girls but one of us returned home. 

I remember there was a disused well at St James. 

I fell into that pit after I had gone to relieve myself and the villagers came to my rescue after having spent half the night in that well. 

The place was just after Nyatande River. 

Our journey to Mozambique took us seven days. 

We crossed with the help of a wedding party vehicle. 

We managed to cross Nyanga Road safely. 

Nyanga Road was notorious for being used by Zimbabweans, mostly students, who were crossing in groups to Mozambique for military training. 

That day we slept at St Peter’s Jombe. 

Vanamujibha (war collaborators) who had escorted us introduced us to vanamukoma. 

We entered Mozambique through a narrow gorge at Pungwe River through Honde Valley. 

Takazobudira kuMavhonde kuMozambique tavatega vana vechikoro. 

From Mavhonde we went to Manica. 

The following day, we went to Chimoio where we spent a week waiting to go to Doiroi. 

We boarded a Dodge vehicle to Kaitano and finally we arrived at Doiroi Camp. 

There was no food to an extent that we relied on tsanga seven dzemangayi pamunhu ega ega pazuva.

We had to supplement with sunflower seeds on the farm of a whiteman who had left. 

I recall that we were vetted. 

There was woman who was called Mai Kutama who was said to be an expert in the vetting process. 

It was said she was renowned for fishing out sell-outs who would have been sent by the enemy back home. 

To be continued…

Compiled by Fidelis Manyange