The Sunday Mail
THERE are many young women and girls who sacrificed their lives to join the liberation struggle. This week, our Political Editor KUDA BWITITI sits down with Cde LYN GORORO (LG), who recounts her experiences during the war of liberation. Although she was just 14, nothing could stop her from crossing into Mozambique.
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KB: Please tell us about your early life.
LG: My name is Lyn Gororo and my Chimurenga name is Cde Farisai Magorilla.
I was born in 1962, in Gororo village, in Murewa.
I attended Mufakose Primary School in Salisbury (now Harare) from Grade One to Grade Five and then proceeded to Uzumba to complete my primary education.
Cde Gororo
KB: How did you join the liberation struggle?
LG: Sometime in 1976, my father sent me to our rural village in Murewa for some errands.
I travelled on a Friday with the intention to return on Sunday and go back to school on Monday.
However, while I was in the village, I met some colleagues who encouraged me to join the war.
Apparently, these comrades were very close to my cousin, Blessing, who was also female.
We agreed to go to a base in our area where those who wanted to join the liberation struggle would assemble before going to Mozambique.
This decision meant that I would not return home to my father as I had promised.
KB: What really persuaded you to join the struggle given that you were just a 14-year-old girl?
LG: To be honest, I really had a deep passion to join the struggle. It was something that I had been thinking of for a while.
My peers were also joining the struggle and I believed as a young person, it was my duty to liberate the country. I saw it as a calling for our generation to play that role.
Also, at that time, the war was intensifying, particularly in Mt Darwin, where fierce battles were being fought.
So the truth is, I joined the war because this is what my heart and my mind really wanted me to do.
KB: What happened next after you joined others at the base in Murewa?
LG: We spent about a week there, mainly doing errands for the comrades, such as being war collaborators (chimbwidos).
While we were there, recruits were being selected to go to Mozambique in line with recommendations made by our seniors.
After the week had passed, I was the first chimbwido to be selected to go to Mozambique.
KB: Why do you believe you were the first woman to be selected?
LG: I think the passion in me to give my all was recognised by our leaders. I was always fully committed. I believe that I gave my best mentally, physically and even spiritually, so it was easy for them to see my commitment. I also believe that the liberation struggle was intrinsically connected to our ancestors, who guided us and our leaders at every step in making the best decisions.
KB: Please tell us about your journey from the base in Murewa to Mozambique?
LG: The journey started at around 7pm in the evening. As we travelled, our battalion commander was Cde Swederayi. Because of the way he trusted me, he appointed me his deputy, which meant that I had to assist him with his duties. He had another deputy, named Donald, whom we nicknamed Godaposhto, so we were two deputies under our commander.
We walked until the early hours of the next morning, when we got to Masunzwe, in the Nhowe area. As we were travelling, signals were being sent by other comrades regarding our movements, so upon arrival at Masunzwe, we were expected to have our meal.
So at around 6am, just as I started to eat, a fellow comrade arrived and advised us that all was not well. The enemy forces had seen us. Just then, Cde Swederayi knew that we had to act fast. He told me to quickly finish the food and take cover.
KB: From which direction was the enemy coming?
LG: They were coming from behind us. The sound of gunshots grew louder and we ran to nearby villages.
KB: How far were the enemy forces as you ran?
LG: I could hear that they were very close and as I ran, I saw a small dam nearby and jumped into it. Even though I was not a very good swimmer, it was safer to jump into the dam. A cousin of mine managed to help me get out of the dam later on. I believe jumping into that small dam saved me because we lost some comrades in that attack.
KB: What happened next?
LG: I decided to blend in with the civilians, as some of them were my relatives. I proceeded to assist in herding cattle so that the enemy would assume that I was just another member of the community.
But just as I was to retire for the night at one of my relative’s homestead, word was sent to me that the comrades were still looking for me. With the enemy threat now over, I was able to rejoin the comrades and continue the journey to Mozambique.
KB: Given that you came face-to-face with the enemy just as you were on the journey to Mozambique, did you not consider returning home?
LG: I could have easily abandoned joining the war to stay with my relatives, but that is not what I wanted.
I had a fierce determination to go to Mozambique and join the war.
KB: How did the rest of the journey to Mozambique go?
LG: We walked for several days, passing through Mutoko. We then used the Tanda Road that took us to Nyanga. In Nyanga, just as we were about to cross into Mozambique, some horrific incidents happened.
Don’t miss next week’s instalment as Cde Gororo recounts the gruesome events that happened in Nyanga before they crossed into Mozambique
