It was better to die for a worthy cause

CDE TOBIAS KANYONGO (TK), whose nom de guerre was Bomber Chimukwende, begins his account by chronicling how he joined the liberation war when he was still in primary school. He tells our Features and Arts Editor PRINCE MUSHAWEVATO (PM) how injustices perpetrated by the colonial regime forced him to join other boys and girls who were determined to take up arms to free Zimbabwe from white minority rule.

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PM: You can start by introducing yourself.

TK: My name is Tobias Kanyongo and my liberation name was Bomber Chimukwende.

I was born on September 15, 1958 at Maema Primary School in Uzumba (Mashonaland East province), and that is where I grew up.

I did my primary school there, before I later on transferred to Morris Primary School, which is also in Uzumba, in 1974. I was doing Grade Six then.

I was born in a family of nine children — six boys and three girls. It was only my late brother, Edward Kanyongo, the one I come after, and I who joined the liberation struggle.

At some point, he joined the Zimbabwe National Army after independence.

PM: How were you introduced to African nationalism?

TK: In 1975, freedom fighters came to our village. I was excited to get the opportunity to finally meet the comrades. We were just used to hearing about them on radio and through stories that were doing the rounds in villages.

Upon engaging them, I immediately became a mujibha (war collaborator).

At night, we used to visit their bases in Maema, where we would meet and discuss a number of issues pertaining to the struggle.

We did this routinely. During the day, we would attend school and go to the camps at night.

During one of the visits, I was touched, or should I say inspired, when I saw a young gentleman who was the same age as I, or slightly younger, holding a gun and other artillery.

He was so composed that it got me thinking. I asked myself, if such a young man managed to go for training, passed and joined the struggle, what was stopping me from doing the same?

I liked the idea that he loved his country so much that he was willing to risk his life for it to be free.

I became highly motivated. Besides, I was against white minority rule. The white man was very cruel.

PM: After being inspired by the youthful freedom fighter, what then happened?

TK: I felt it would have been wrong for me not to help stop the colonial government’s evil ways. One day, when we were in Nhakiwa village, the comrades mobilised people and we gathered for a lecture on the agenda of the liberation struggle.

A lot of bad things were happening and these are some of the issues they wanted to talk about. Nothing made sense back then, even going to work, because of oppression.

As the meeting proceeded, the Rhodesian security teams got wind of the gathering from a sellout among the villagers and promptly organised an assault.

They came heavily armed and systematically attacked us. At least 16 people died on the spot during the attack.

I sustained serious injuries on my thighs and had to be transferred to Harare (then Salisbury) for surgery.

After treatment, my brother Edward advised me against going back to the village as he felt I was not going to be so lucky next time.

He then secured work for me in Harare. I began working at a company called Vak Pack, which specialised in cheese.

PM: How was life in the city compared to the village?

TK: Well, there were no major changes.

The brutality was still the same.

I was working in the packaging division.

We worked like slaves, but with poor remuneration despite the fact that the white owner was making huge profits.

I used to get $7 per week, which could hardly cover my basic needs. However, one day, the white man’s son came to the factory.

We used heavy machinery for sealing the products. So, as I was working, minding my business, the white boy came and placed his hand under the packaging machine.

I did not notice it and I accidentally crushed his hand. His father was livid. He charged and accused me of being a terrorist.

He cursed and blamed my brother for bringing a terrorist into his company. He knew that I had previously suffered a serious injury after being attacked by the Rhodesian soldiers; therefore, he did not consider the incident to be an accident, yet it was a genuine mistake.

In his eyes, I was a terrorist out for revenge.

PM: Were you not instantly fired?

TK: No! I survived, but the work environment became unbearable for my brother and I, as the owner made all sorts of threats and occasionally promised to fire us. The hostile environment led me to quit. He did not fire us.

After quitting, I joined up with my friend Misheck Mutata, who worked at Jobs Night Spot. We made a plan to travel to Mozambique to join other sons and daughters who were fighting to liberate the country.

We felt it was better to die for a worthy cause in the battlefield than to wait and get butchered at work by the deranged white employer.

After planning everything, we went to Chisipite, where we boarded a bus headed for Mutoko. When we got there, we proceeded further to Nyamuyaruka, which is at the Mozambican border. We got there around 7pm. We were now in the year 1976.

I made the journey to Mozambique with my friend; only the two of us. No single person forced us to travel or guided us along the way.

We crossed the border just after midnight.

Next week, Cde Kanyongo recounts some of the challenges he faced in Mozambique before being sent to East Africa for military training.