The Sunday Mail
Munyaradzi Huni – Deputy Editor
AS a show of respect to the passing of the late Amai Victoria Chitepo, who was the wife to one of the country’s legendary national heroes, the late Zanu chairman Cde Herbert Chitepo, the Question and Answer session of the Chronicles from the Second Chimurenga has been suspended this week.
The name of Cde Herbert Chitepo features prominently in the interviews and we thought it would be in bad taste to carry this week’s interview as the country is still moaning the heroine who passed away last Friday.
However, we go back to the liberation struggle and bring you never-been-told information that show how unjust the Smith regime was.
Freedom fighters as young as 18 years old were sentenced to death – just for volunteering to fight for their country.
But before that, let me share with you an emotional message that I received from Dr Dennis Magaya:
“Hie Munya. Once again, the country will soon be celebrating the attainment of independence. Just as I do all the years, I will join in the celebrations but my heart is still bleeding.
“The mystery surrounding my late father Arthur Magaya whose Chimurenga name was Cde Soul Sadza has not yet been solved. He joined the liberation struggle in 1972 and rose through the ranks in Zanu.
“Reports say he was one of the highest ranking Zanu officials to die at the war front in 1976. I am his first born child and would really appreciate just to know where exactly and how he died. Thirsty-six years down the line, my heart still bleeds for answers!”
What a touching message. Expect to get a few answers on Cde Soul Sadza in the coming weeks.
Now back to Ian Smith’s cruelty.
In December 1976, the International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa produced the book “Ian Smith’s Hostages: Political Prisoners in Rhodesia”. The book contained details that show the ruthlessness and barbarism of the Smith regime during the liberation struggle. According to the book, under Rhodesia’s Law and Order (Maintenance) Act, a person could be sentenced to death for any of the following reasons:
undergoing a course of guerrilla training.
recruiting, or encouraging another person to do so.
being in possession of weapons of war.
arson, sabotage, bomb attacks, laying land mines and other acts of guerrilla warfare.
providing food, shelter or other forms of assistance to guerrillas.
failing to report the presence of guerrillas to the authorities within a specified time.
Many freedom fighters and povho were arrested and given varying sentences for participating in the liberation struggle, but according to the book, the comrades did not go down without a fight in the courts. Faced with death, the courage shown by these comrades should up to this day inspire many Zimbabweans. The freedom fighters did not mince their words speaking against the colonial system, including telling the courts that they really had nothing to fear.
Below are a few excerpts from the book under the title “Statements from the Dock”.
“We are not prepared to plead or to be tried by this court . . .we consider ourselves not criminals, but prisoners of war … (Horace Nyasika, Salisbury High Court, June 1966)
“I have nothing against the white man or the Security Forces of this country. The fight was simply directed against the law, the law which oppresses other people in this country, the law that is discriminatory . . . (Sly Masuku, Salisbury High Court, August 1968).
“The African people of this country know that I am fighting for the truth, and the whites living outside Rhodesia know that I am fighting for my rights. Some whites in this country sympathize with me but they are afraid to go against their brothers. Because we are not accepted as sons of Zimbabwe, we are insulted by being called terrorists. If this word means a wild person who kills other people, what is the white man to be called, since he came into this country armed and killed people and he is still doing so? While I am fighting for the truth, the white man is fighting for the wealth of Zimbawe.” (Zanu freedom fighter, Bulawayo High Court, November 1968)
“What I know, my Lord, is that members of the police force are employees of the government. What I have been doing is to fight against the government. Therefore I was doing something the police force disliked. Hence their false stories in court. And I know that the court in an institution which belongs to the government that I am fighting against, so it will not surprise me if the court disbelieves me as well.” (Zapu freedom fighter, Salisbury High Court, May 1970)
The Smith regime went ahead and sentenced several freedom fighters to death. In fact, according to the book, the regime on 21 April, 1975; announced that there would be no public announcements of the executions of these comrades.
“It is highly likely that the majority of these men (listed below), particularly those who have had appeals against their sentences dismissed, have already died,” part of the book says.
Below are some of the freedom fighters sentenced to death by the Smith regime on political charges.
Ben Gibson – convicted in Salisbury High Court on 25 February 1976. Appeal dismissed in May.
Bumhira Luke (30) – convicted in a Special Court at Inyanga at the end of July 1976. Appeal dismissed in October.
Chakabvapasi Stone (19) – convicted in a Special Court in Salisbury on 30 August 1976.
Chapungu Stephen (30) – convicted in a Special Court in Umtali on 26 May 1976. Appeal dismissed in July.
Chikunguru N – convicted in a Special Court at Inyanga on 28 May 1976. Appeal dismissed in July.
Chinyadza Godson A. (21) – convicted in Salisbury High Court on 4 August 1976.
Dube Elliot (22) – convicted in Salisbury High Court in November 1975. Appeal dismissed in May 1976.
Gahadzikwa Lazarus (20) – convicted in a Special Court in Salisbury on 11 June 1976. Appeal dismissed in July.
Gandiwa Hozeah (29) – convicted in a Special Court in Salisbury on 30 August 1976.
Gurupati Nisa (20) – convicted in a Special Court in Umtali at the end of July 1976. Appeal dismissed in October.
Guva Petersen (24) – convicted in a Special Court in Umtali at the end of July 1976. Appeal dismissed in October.
Gwaze Isaak (27) – convicted in Salisbury High Court on 16 June 1976. Appeal dismissed in August.
Gwede Plan (20) – convicted in Salisbury High Court on 18 March 1976.
Hlengani John (65) – convicted in Salisbury High Court at the end of October 1975. Appeal dismissed in February 1976 and petition to the Rhodesian President dismissed in March.
Jani Nyamwata – convicted in a Special Court at Chipinge at the end of August 1976.
Kanokunda Good (22) – convicted in Salisbury High Court on 6 February 1976.
Kanyasa Darlington Philimon – convicted in a Special Court in Salisbury on 18 June 1976. Appeal dismissed in September.
Kizito Enoch Vera – convicted in a Special Court in September 1976.
Kumbukayi Patrick (18) – convicted in Salisbury High Court on 6 February 1976.
Mabonzo Clever – convicted in January 1975. Appeal dismissed in March.
Machisa Shadreck (31) – convicted in Salisbury High Court on 17 October 1975. Appeal dismissed in December.
Madovi Elias (30) – convicted in a Special Court in Salisbury on 30 August 1976.
Makombe Crispen – convicted in a Special Court at Inyanga on 28 May 1976.
Mapfundiro Chiwiye – convicted on 10 March 1975.
Marimo Naison – convicted in a Special Court at Inyanga on 28 May 1976.
Masimba Ismael – convicted in a Special Court at Inyanga on 28 May 1976.
Mavunga Cuthbert – convicted on an unknown date in a Special Court. Appeal dismissed in August 1976.
Mhandu Friday – convicted in a Special Court at Inyanga on 28 May 1976.
Moto Ignatius (17) – convicted in Salisbury High Court on 7 November 1975.
Muchekadire Elliot – convicted in a Special Court at Inyanga on 28 May 1976.
Mudzikenyedze Frederick (20) – convicted in a Special Court in Salisbury on 30 August 1976,
Mukwekwe Lameck – convicted in a Special Court at Inyanga at the end of August 1976. Appeal dismissed in September.
Munyama Basopo – convicted in a Special Court in Umtali on 21 July 1976. Appeal dismissed in November.
Mushipe Crispen (20) – convicted in a Special Court in Salisbury on 30 August 1976.
Mutovoni Norman (20) – convicted in a Special Court in Salisbury on 30 August 1976.
Ncube Benson – convicted in Salisbury High Court on 15 August 1975. Appeal dismissed in December.
Ncube Rekisi Pikili Brantino – convicted in Bulawayo High Court on 12 December 1975. Appeal dismissed in March 1976.
Nhiri Christopher – convicted in December 1975. Appeal dismissed in March 1976.
Nyagu George (22) – convicted in a Special Court in Salisbury on 30 August 1976.
Nyagu Philip (21) – convicted in a Special Court in Salisbury on 6 September 1976.
Nyakudya Kenneth Jim (19) – convicted in Salisbury High Court on 6 February 1976. Appeal dismissed in May.
Nyamaropa Reza (18) – convicted in Salisbury High Court on 7 November 1975.
Nyambabvu Robbie – convicted in Salisbury High Court on 15 August 1975. Appeal dismissed in December.
Nyamhandu Maxwell – convicted 10 March 1975.
Shava Ponias Tanzwa (19) – convicted in Salisbury High Court at the end of April/beginning of May 1976. Appeal dismissed in June.
Shumba Chombile – convicted in a Special Court at Gwelo on 17 September 1976.
Simbilisios Mashama (37) – convicted in a Special Court in Umtali on 26 May 1976. Appeal dismissed in August.
Tikabva Rodreck – convicted in a Special Court in Umtali on 21 July 1976. Appeal dismissed in November.
Tiriboyi Luckson (23) – convicted in Salisbury High Court on 26 March 1976. Appeal dismissed in May.
Tobias Kariba Herbert – convicted on an unknown date. Appeal dismissed in March 1975.
Tsauke Baya – convicted in January 1975. Appeal dismissed in March 1975.
Wandawona Elly (20) – convicted 18 March 1975.
Wayeni Chireza (30) – convicted in Salisbury High Court on 15 October 1975. Appeal dismissed in March 1976.
According to the book, in October 1976, Smith’s Minister of Defence, Mr PK Van der Byl told a reporter at the Geneva Conference who had asked why the Smith regime was not releasing the names of the people who would have been sentenced to death and hanged that “he did not know if this was the case,” adding, “anyway, it is academic because they are normally dead after it.”
What a chilling response!
But despite it all – on 18 April 1980 – Zimbabwe attained its independence.
Zimbabweans will never forget!
