The Sunday Mail
Cde Kumbirai Kangai (KK) speaking to The Sunday Mail (SM), November 2012.
SM: After ceasefire, we hear that you were given new tasks. Tell us more about this?
KK: Sheba Gava (Gen Vitalis Zvinavashe) was given a special taskforce which was on standby that if we who had come into the country were in trouble, they would come. On 27 January 1980, there was a big rally at Zimbabwe Grounds so I came with the President and Vice President.
After the rally the following morning, I went back to Mozambique. There I had the responsibility of releasing two white captives. I also had to release these people who had been sent (detained) to (an) island. It was now not only the people from the Vashandi group. There was another revolt which took place and the people were arrested and sent to the same island.
SM: This revolt you are now talking about, when did it happen?
KK: It happened in 1978.
SM: And who are the people who were leading this group that revolted in 1978?
KK: Some comrades that we really trusted. Some of this information is better published when some of us are gone. Do you give me that guarantee?
SM: Yes, comrade.
KK: Among the leaders of this group was Rugare Gumbo, the party’s spokesperson now.
SM: What had happened? I mean what led to this revolt?
KK: Well, I wouldn’t know what their grievances were but Gumbo and these people decided to organise a revolt which fortunately didn’t succeed and so they were arrested by Zanu led by Rex Nhongo (Gen Solomon Mujuru).
I was at the Malta talks with (Gen Josiah) Tongogara, Cde Mugabe and a few others. While we were there in Malta, the revolt took place. When we got back that’s when we were told that there was a revolt and Gumbo, a comrade we trusted, was among the organisers of this revolt.
Some were surprised but personally I wasn’t surprised. I knew Gumbo (for) a long time and I knew his views about the struggle and his views on the leadership of the party.
So I went back to Mozambique, went back to Beira and they were brought by the Mozambicans. I said to these comrades, “Comrades, zvakaitika muhondo ndezve muhondo. Now we are in ceasefire. We want to go for elections. Let’s forget about what happened during the war. (Pause) I really had a tough time.
SM: A tough time from who?
KK: From the comrades, including Gumbo, can you imagine? They asked; “You want us to go and campaign for you? You arrested us, now you want to use us for your campaigns. No, no. We won’t do that.”
I only got four comrades who agreed to go with me and said we will go with the party. All the other comrades refused to go with me. Even Gumbo who was once a member of Dare ReChimurenga refused to go with me.
They remained with the British.
Then I went to Maputo. The two white captives were brought there. I called a Press conference. The British Ambassador was there and I said, “Here are your people”. The two captives were so happy.
SM: They had been in captivity for how long?
KK: One year and the other one year and a half.
SM: Cde Kangai, let me get something straight here. These comrades who were on this island who refused to go with you; when you say you left them with the British, what exactly do you mean?
KK: They chose to remain in the hands of the British, Gumbo included. It really pained me that such a high-ranking comrade was betraying the struggle in such a way. The British were responsible for bringing them back home here.
Ordinarily, I should have been the one who brought them back home because they were comrades from Zanu, but I only got four that I arranged transport for. Up to this day, I have never bothered to ask Gumbo why he did what he did.
Please don’t publish this. It will cause unnecessary friction in the party as we go for elections . . . After making arrangements for these four, the next day I came back home.
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(Rtd) Brig-Gen Mbita (HM) speaking to The Sunday Mail (SM) in April 2014.
SM: What led to the Mgagao Declaration?
HM: Partly it was differences between political leaders, partly because of mistrust between cadres and the party’s leadership. I remember there was one person, ehh, what is Gumbo doing now? . . . eeh, Rugare Gumbo!
I think he was returning from Canada then. So about twice, because of the information I was getting, I off loaded him from a ship that was going to Beira. When I was told Gumbo was there, I knew there was not going to be peace where he was going.
SM: Why?
HM: Why? Because he was not peaceful. He was a politician. His political line did not convince me that he was going to make peace there.
SM: What had he done which convinced you that he was to cause trouble?
HM: I don’t have to tell you that . . .
SM: But as the young generation it would be good we know . . .
HM: You will learn when I am not there.
