HomeOld_Posts‘Our Chikombedzi experience’

‘Our Chikombedzi experience’

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The story of Nkosijyabo Mahamba alias Cde Edward Guramapadza

MOZAMBIQUE’s independence from the Portuguese, on June 25 1975, played a crucial role in my decision to join the liberation struggle.

I decided, together with other students from Honde Mission, to abandon college and cross the border into Mozambique to join fellow cadres in the fight against British colonial rule. 

We wanted Zimbabwe to be free. 

I was 18 years old then.

Having been born in the mining town of Zvishavane in 1957, I was subject to racial discrimination which resulted in me failing to secure a place to train as an apprenticeship at the asbestos mine after sitting for my Junior Certificate.

I also witnessed the abuse of women by whites in the mining town. 

I was convinced only the gun could bring joy and happiness to marginalised Africans.

The excitement of Mozambicans on Radio Maputo was enough conviction for me and other 91 students to cross the border.

Among the group were 22 girls.

We did not face any challenges crossing the border since Mozambicans were celebrating their independence.

I was in the first group that received military training at Tembwe, which was popularly known as ‘Chikoro Chehondo’, from September to December.

In January 1976, I went to Tanzania for further military training at Morogoro for six months.

Upon completion of training, I went back to Chimoio, Mozambique.

I was deployed to ZANLA’s Gaza war province which was under the command of Cde Freddie Matanga.

A word came to our base one cold evening in June. 

Two war collaborators informed us that Rhodies were constructing a Protected Village in Chambinga Village in Chikombedzi.

The enemy had discovered a strong relationship that existed between the masses and vanamukoma (freedom fighters).

The masses provided information on the movement of the enemy, hence putting the masses in a Protected Village would distance the povo from the freedom fighters.

Our detachment commander, Cde Fungai Chimurenga, came up with a plan to disrupt the constriction of the Protected Village.

Two war collaborators and two guerillas were assigned for reconnaissance, which they carried out in two days.

Three sections were combined after commanders were satisfied with the reconnaissance and we were told how we were going to attack.

Comrades with bazookas were to shoot first, followed by those with light machine guns (LMGs), while the rest would follow suit.

We left the base and walked to our target, about 10km away from our base.

I was with Cdes Samson Nyatwa, Matura Ndege and Urayai Mabhunu, among others.

Our target was clear since the enemy had lit floodlights. 

They had a heavy duty generator, working during the night.

We took our positions and waited for the order to strike.

I anxiously waited because it was my first time to attack the enemy.

Cde Fungai Chimurenga fired his best shot and I accurately fired at the generator.

We caught the enemy by surprise.

The camp was on fire in seconds.

The fire from our killing machines lit all the pole-built huts which were grass-thatched.

The Protected Village was razed down.

I vividly remember seeing Rhodesians running like headless chickens.

They never returned fire and we were done in a few minutes.

We then went to our gathering point and celebrated our victory.

The following morning, Rhodies who survived called for reinforcements.

The sky was filled with ugly helicopters which kept hovering, searching for us.

We, however, had hid in a cave and went to Malipati, about 20km away, that very night after the enemy had retired .

I will live to celebrate that victorious attack because the enemy abandoned the plan of fencing in people in a Protected Village.

Compiled by Emergencey Mwale-Kamtande and Jacob Sigauke.

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