Bees saved us from death

13 Feb, 2022 - 00:02 0 Views
Bees saved us from death

The Sunday Mail

THIS is our fifth and last instalment of our captivating discussion with CDE JOSEPH SERIMA (js), a former freedom fighter who contributed immensely to the liberation of this country through fighting at the front, taking care of children at refugee camps and by composing and producing liberation war songs that kept the guerillas’ morale high. Last week, we ended our discussion with Cde Serima as he was narrating how he managed to escape from the Chimoio bombardment and hid, together with scores of other refugees, under a huge tree which was partly submerged in water. Cde Serima (JS), this week narrates to our Senior Reporter TENDAI CHARA (TC) how he eventually moved away from the danger zone to safety during the Chimoio massacre. He discussed with us how he became an integral part of the Zanla Band which nurtured some of the musicians that later on became household names in independent Zimbabwe.

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TC: Last week we ended our discussion with you hiding under a tree trunk, what happened next?

JS: Yes, when we got to the river, we noticed that there was an unbelievably large swarm of bees that was under the same tree trunk that we were hiding. For us to get back to dry land from the river, the only exit point was through the spot where the bees had gathered. For a strange reason, each time we tried to leave the tree trunk and move away from the hide-out, the bees would ferociously attack us. In the end, we decided not to try to leave the hideout until it was dark.

The bees saved us from imminent death. Had we wandered out of the hiding place, we definitely would have been killed by the Rhodesian soldiers who were roaming around killing anyone they could lay their hands on. The Rhodesian soldiers had encircled the camp and were killing the young, the elderly and the injured, like flies. When it got dark, we then proceed to Chimoio town.

You know during the war, a lot of mysterious things happened. The bees that we encountered were not the ordinary bees that we all know. They were probably sent by our ancestors to save us.

During the evening, say around 7pm, we then left the hideout and headed for Chimoio town. We did not stay long in Chimoio as we were promptly moved to a place called Gondola. At Gondola, we erected our huts in a gumtree plantation. After some days, I was summoned by the leadership which included the late Cde Mayor Urimbo, Cde Vitalis Zvinavashe and Cde Herbert Ushewokunze.

Although my guerilla name was Mabhunu Muchapera, I was one of the few people who were known by their real names. My real name stuck simply because of the interaction that I had with the children at Nyadzonia refugee camp. The children always referred to me by my real name. I was told to pack my few belongings as an urgent mission awaited me. I was overjoyed. I thought I was going to get an assignment outside Mozambique.

A vehicle was made available and within moments, we were driving towards Beira. The vehicle then turned right into a dusty road and that is when I realised that the assignment was within Mozambique. I was dejected.

We arrived at a Frelimo camp and I then realised that we were heading for Doroi refugee camp. I was told that since I had seen action in the war zone and had mingled with the masses, I was the right person to run the Political Commissariat department at Doroi. As a political commissar, my duty was to teach the new recruits the aim of the liberation struggle. At Doroi, we had such notable figures as Cde Khumalo and Cde Tsuro, who were some of the base commanders.

I was a trustee commander and I was charge of all the political commissars that were at Doroi. We had about seven bases at Doroi and all the base political commissars reported to me. I would visit all the bases, singing and entertaining the refugees. Singing and dancing helped me take my mind away from thinking about the hunger that was stalking us.

The conditions at Doroi were horrendous to say the least. People were dying every day due to starvation, malnutrition and diseases.

I could see the bodies being taken for burial and this affected me emotionally. I came under attack from Matekenya, the fungal disease which affects the feet. One could have a finger amputated after a Matekenya attack. After a brief stay, I was then transferred to Pungwe Three base, then back to Doroi Base Eight.

From this base, we would travel to Maputo where we recorded our music.

TC: Tell us about your journey as a musician.

JS: My musical journey started long back before I even joined the liberation struggle. Like I said previously, I was an active member of our church choir. I carried on with singing when I joined the war. During the war, I specialised in traditional music and some of my colleagues like Cde Chinx concentrated on choral music.

I was the one who took Cde Chinx and many other people and introduced them to music. I formed the Zanla Band, which, like I said, sang both traditional and choral music. The band also engaged itself in such traditional dances as Muchongoyo and many other cultural dances. My first recording, which I sang at the Salisbury airport when we landed from Mozambique is called “Zuva ranhasi Izuva Guru”.

Hundreds of thousands of the song’s copies were sold on Independence Day. I would have been a millionaire if the money that was realised from the sales was given to me (laughs). I am happy to say that the money that was realised from the sales was put to good use by my party. Cde Chinx composed the song “Hondo” during this time.

In 1979, myself, together with my choir, were taken from Doroi to Maputo en-route on our way to the newly- independent Zimbabwe. Unlike our fellow fighters who were transported by road, we flew back home. Some of the notable names that were members of the Zanla Band were Max Mapfumo, who went on form the Dopiro Crew. We also had Ketai Kuchawaya and Knowledge Kunenyati.

I had a good time with these musicians although Mapfumo always gave me a torrid time as he always pestered me asking for marijuana (laughs). We often laughed about this with those that were part of the choir. After independence, I released a lot of songs, with Bothwell Nyamhondera being my producer.

After independence, I broke off from the Zanla Band and formed my own group, the Kuwirirana Mbira Unit. We later changed the group to Tongogara Mbira Unit. My last recording was in 1986 and the song was a commemoration of the Nyadzonia and Chimoio massacres.

I remember when we arrived at the Salisbury airport, we noticed white soldiers positioning themselves on rooftops. I refused to come out of the plane. I thought the Rhodesian soldiers, who were clutching FN riffles, would ambush and kill us.

The late national hero, Cde Rex Nhongo, who was at the airport, assured me that the war had ended. From the airport, we headed straight to the Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield where thousands and thousands of ecstatic Zimbabweans had gathered to welcome the late former president Robert Mugabe.

Each one of us had 15 T-shirts that were emblazoned with the late president’s picture and we freely distributed them.

TC: Tell us about the atmosphere at the Zimbabwe grounds that day

JS: It was lively occasion. I don’t think that we will ever witness such a large gathering during our lifetime. We went on stage and entertained the huge crowd. After that, we were given a house to use in Highlands. I was then transferred to a base in Goromonzi before joining the Zimbabwe National Army in 1982.

I am now a full-time farmer in Gweru.

TC: Cde, thank you very much for your time.

JS: You are most welcome.

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