The story of Cde Munhuwani aka Cde Guy One
IN 1976, I was posted in Nyajena, Masvingo which was first under Sector One of Gaza Province before becoming Sector Four of Manicaland Province and was commanded by Cde Henry Muchena aka (Slogan).
One morning in January 1977, we were coming from Mushawasha Purchase Area which we referred to as ‘Cambodia’ during the war.
The peculiar name was derived from a fierce battle fought at Makoho Mountain by a section that was led by Cde Gundya.
At that time, I was in a section commanded by Cde Hardman which comprised Cde Lovemore P.C Chigwadza, who was in charge of security, Cde Big Same, Cde Magumo and myself to name but a few.
We camped at Thomas Village base in the morning where the povo brought us food at around 11am.
While chef De Guzinya was doing the honours of sharing the food, a mujibha (war collaborator) bust in breathing heavily.
He immediately informed us that the enemy was closing in on us on horsebacks.
The mujibha estimated that there must have been no less than 25 of them.
Without wasting time, we paraded and agreed to launch a counter attack.
We hurried down the base which was a small mountain before taking battle formation and marching in the direction of the enemy, arms on hip level.
Within 500 metres of our foes, Cde Lovemore spotted them and losing no time, he took prone position and opened fire.
We followed suit and simultaneously opened heavy fire. The ill-prepared enemy was still in column position on horsebacks.
For almost 10 minutes we fired relentlessly at the enemy before Cde Hardman shouted, “Retreat!” Suddenly two helicopters appeared at the battle place, evidence that they had planned a surprise attack on us but vakadzirasa.
Mind you, the battle took place in a bushy area so unfortunately on retreating, we found ourselves in the village fields where there was no cover except for a few trees on the edge of the fields.
We retreated in a column formation, stealthily moving from one tree to the other, whenever the helicopters gave us their backs.
We retreated unnoticed by the enemy choppers and then headed to Rupike Village.
When we got there, morale was overwhelmingly high as was the norm when vanamukoma (freedom fighters) were successful in battle.
During those years, the enemy exceedingly underrated us.
The hired mercenaries even thought they could catch us barehanded and put us in maize sacks.
The enemy mounted platoon was almost wiped out.
One of them was later seen at Muchakata area sweating profusely, without a cap.
The enemy companions later came to collect their dead but chose to leave the dead horses, which is why today, some of the horse’s remains can be seen at Thomas Village.
In the preceeding years, we fought and won more battles against the settlers and the povo in that area can bear witness. This was despite the fact that only a few more sections were still operating in that area, but we had been advised by spirit mediums to keep the fire burning.
Fredom fighters deviced unique strategy in the Nyajena area.
We refrained from shaking hands with civilians, neither did we use their blankets, or take shelter in a civilian’s house, such that, mvura yese ya1976-1977 yakapera pamuviri.
The issue of not shaking hands with civilians was later invalidated by a sectorial commander named Cde Garachera who came to Nyajena in 1977.
I later accompanied Cde Garachera to Mozambique, but before we could get there, we were caught in serious battle with Rhodesians in Bikita, kuBase kwaMai Morari.
Of the section of 13, only four survived, with Cde Garachera being captured, while a fighter called Cde Rifle Mhere died and was buried by civilians.
I was later shown his grave and handed his rifle.
Cde Chakarakata was also captured in that battle and became a notorious Selous Scout until ceasefire.
Let me take this opportunity to inform comrades from Mt Darwin who knew Cde Rifle Mhere to inform his relatives that his grave is at Chiremwaremwa area in Bikita.