The Sunday Mail
THE column, Chronicles from the Second Chirenga is not a faceless column where we just interview freedom fighters without connection with the people. For the past 16 years, Dr Dennis Magaya has been leading his family in searching for answers regarding the death and burial of his father, Cde Soul Sadza, a member of Zanu’s High Command, who died at the war front in 1976.
Dr Magaya is clearly a troubled son who according to him “wants closure to what exactly happened to his father,” because “we want him to rest in peace.” In a bid to assist Dr Magaya and his family to find answers, our Deputy Editor Munyaradzi Huni arranged a meeting between Dr Magaya (DM) and veteran freedom fighter, Cde Norman Bethune. Below are excepts from the meeting. Read on …
DM: Thank you for your time. I would start by asking you, what exactly do you know about my father, Soul Sadza?
Cde Bethune: Soul Sadza was a member of the High Command operating in Manica province. He was the provincial political commissar of Manicaland province and when he passed on his position was taken by Retired Brigadier General Gibson Mashingaidze. They were in the same stream from around 1974, 75 to 1976. If I am not mistaken, he passed away in mid 1976 in Manica province. He was now coming to the rear in Chimoio where I was stationed. I am not sure of the exact area where he died but its between Rusape and Wedza around Makoni area. His generation included people like Shef Shiri because they were in the same in-take. They were even promoted to be field commanders at the same time. By this time, some of us where already seasoned commanders.
DM: What was this High Command?
Cde Bethune: During those days the head of the supreme council of Dare Rechimurenga was chairman Herbert Chitepo. He had members that he worked with in this Dare Rechimurenga who represented different departments of the struggle like secretaries for Health, Logistics, Education, Law, Command and so on. Under these secretaries there would be directors who would head these departments. I was the overall commander at the Zanu Headquarters at Chimoio. So all field commanders would pass through me and I would direct them to their respective commanders.
These secretaries could be members of the province before being members of the Central Committee. From the Central Committee, the next would be members of the High Command. Members of the High Command were chosen from the Central Committee. From High Command, there were members of the General Staff. These were the sectorial commanders. These sectorial commanders are the ones who were at the war front. They were physically on the ground to direct the war. So every province had a commander and his/her executive. After that came the district command which we also called the sectorial level. Like I said each sector had a commander.
DM: So generally, how many people would be in this High Command?
Cde Bethune: It would really depend. Sometimes we would have the High Command in the field or at the external. Our structures were meant to respond to situations on the ground. Now we don’t have the High Command and I think this is one of the reasons why we are having the current problems in the party. We should have maintained this structure.
DM: You know I have never had the opportunity to meet someone who tells me about these structures and where exactly my father fitted. To me this is very touching to meet a person like you. We never saw our father.
Cde Bethune: Your father ndivo vaiwumba musangano at the same time he had the qualities of commanding the war. He showed this through his practical abilities. He was in the commissariat department whose main role was to mobilise people to support the liberation struggle.
DM: Who are some of the people who were in this High Command?
Cde Bethune: There are many who are still alive. Quite a number of them. Shef vedu, our Army Commander, CDF (Commander Defence Forces), Dr Chiwenga, he was a member of the High Command. He was number three from Cde Mayor Urimbo and the late Cde Josiah Tungamirai in the structure of the Zanu Commissariat. After these three, we now had what we called directors of the commissariat. Your father was a member of the High Command but under Manica province. The head of Manica province was Retired Major General Paradzai Zimondi who is now head of the Prisons and Correctional Services. He is the one who would know kuti Soul Sadza akafira papi. I actually think he went and saw pakaiswa Soul Sadza mushure mekunge afa.
DM: What kind of a person was my father? I always try to picture him at work.
Cde Bethune: Munhu kana une position yemukuru, kashoma kuti udiwe nemunhu wese. Leaders were supposed to guide other comrades and in doing this we couldn’t make everyone happy. As leaders we were supposed to supervise and even show zvatinenge tichitaura. At the end of the week or month, the party would ask for reports to show progress on given tasks. How successful were your operations, the challenges, your weaknesses and the way forward? Also remember we had principles to follow.
Your father was not based in Mozambique, he was munhu wekufront. Varume vekugara kufront vachironga hondo dzavo vachirova. Of course once in a while they would be called to the rear when we wanted to adopt new war strategies. Soul Sadza received his military training in Tanzania and passed through Mozambique in 1976 going to the front. His appointment, together with others, was done soon after they finished their training. Your father worked with people like Cde Mapungwana, his Chimurenga name was Augustine Mhere. He is still alive and lives in Odzi, in Mutare.
Your father was a bit quiet but sociable. He knew his job very well and those he worked with respected him.
DM: After the death of a member of the High Command was the burial the same as that of other comrades?
Cde Bethune: There was no difference in the burials. The procedure was the same for everyone. Of course, at the rear we would then get reports that such and such comrade has died at such and such an area. The burial would depend on the war situation at that time. Some comrades were buried decently even with assistance from the povho but like I said it really depended on the situation at that time. Zvaingoenderana kuti munhu akapfurwa pacontact here or paambush. After the attack, sometimes the comrades would disperse and regroup later when the situation became stable.
DM: So how exactly was this group attacked and how many were they?
Cde Bethune: I think it was a contact with the Rhodesian soldiers. I really don’t want to say much about this because I wasn’t there. I am not sure how many exactly they were, maybe Augustine Mhere may remember. But on many occasions we would be in groups of seven kana tatowandisisa toita nine. I think there are some comrades who were with him on that day who are still alive. When this happened he had been at the front for quite some time.
DM: Did he have a close friend?
Cde Bethune: Yeah of course he had friends just like everybody else. He was close to Cde Gibson Mashingaidze. He is still alive. He was friends to many people because he was a very sociable character. Even me we spoke quite a lot.
DM: I am very relieved that you are explaining these things to me. You know as a family, we would want to have closure on this issue yababa but we can’t because we don’t know kuti mweya wemunhu uyu uri papi chaipo?
Cde Bethune: Tinoziva kuti mweya wake uri pamwechete nevamwe vari musango. Uyu anotova arinani nekuti akavigwa zviri a bit decent although it wasn’t the best. But at least he was acknowledged kuti nhingi takamuviga pakati. It’s a big challenge to our Government and our party to make sure such issues are addressed. This issue has to be addressed and I think not enough is being done in this regard.
I remember there was a certain comrade akatamba nepistol achibva azvipfura paChimoio. We had enough time to look for a coffin to bury him in our traditional way in Mozambique. I am talking about this because I was the one in charge here. What pains me is that this comrade takangomuviga pachuru paChimoio and up to this day achiripo pachuru ipapo. We know his name and even where he came from, but up to this day nothing has been done. Comrade ivavo vachiripo paChimoio.
DM: So if I want to know which area exactly he died and where he was buried so that as a family we can give him a decent burial, what can I do?
Cde Bethune: Hapatomboshaikwi, especially your father. People know where he was buried.
DM: Saka ndopawana sei?
Cde Bethune: In Zanu-PF we have a department of Gender and Culture, but at the moment its not really functioning as we thought. You should approach the district or ward chairperson in your area and tell him or her what you are thinking as a family. This chairperson will take your issue to the Resident Minister. As a family you can then ask the Resident Minister to go with you to see the Resident Minister of the area where your father died. He is the one anosvitsa nyaya yenyu. After this you then tell this Resident Minister what you really want to do. This is the way Government can assist you. From this, a process will be triggered to look for the comrades who operated in that area so that they assist you. In your case, vaZimondi who was the provincial commander can then be approached with the issue to see if he can assist.
DM: Since 2005, we have tried to use that route but nothing has really come out.
Cde Bethune: I will try to help you from my side by talking to fellow comrades. I will first talk to Cde Augustine Mhere, then when I meet Shef Zimondi I will also talk to him about Cde Soul Sadza. There must be some detachment members or some comrades who were with him when he died. I remember death yaSoul Sadza was actually recorded.
DM: I have met vaZimondi and we spoke briefly about this issue, so if you mention my name I am sure he will remember.
Cde Bethune: Ok, I see. I will still talk to him when I find time. There are many people facing such challenges and I am sure he will be willing to assist. The other person who was close to your father was Cde Kaguvi. He later died during the attack at Nyadzonya. We will try to follow the route you have told me and I really hope we will get the assistance. As a family and me as the first born boy, we want closure to this issue. We want our father to rest in peace. As a family we join Zimbabweans in celebrating Independence Day and Heroes Day, but moyo yedu haina kugadzikana. I want to thank you so much for this time and for everything you have told me.
Cde Bethune: Musatende henyu nekuti ndizvo zvatakasarira panyika pano kuti tibatsirane. You can always get in touch with me if you need any assistance. Cde Soul Sadza was our dear comrade and we really would want not only you but his spirit to rest in peace.
