‘Many comrades fell pregnant’

We conclude chronicling the political life of Cde Rhodas Karimakwenda (RK). This week, the liberation fighter whose war name was Cde Anna Matambudziko, narrates to our Reporter, Norman Muchemwa (NM) on the bombing of Tembue Camp.

 

NM: You witnessed a number of battalions being deployed to the front. How were these cadres selected because we get some reports insinuating there were some people who were deliberately thrown into the “firing line”?

RK: After finishing their training, the likes of Cdes Perrance Shiri, Jomo, Chando and Anderson Mhuru would come to the camp and select these comrades for deployment to the warfront. I think it was a random selection.

These commanders like ana Shiri ndivo vaiziva vanhu vavaida. Hongu kungaita vamwe vanoti kune vamwe vaisiwa kurear and vamwe vaisundirwa muchoto asi ini ndinofunga kuti these commanders are the best to answer how they deployed the comrades.

Vana Cde Shiri ndivo vaiuya kuzotora those going to the warfront. We used to call him Gudoguru due to his exploits and leadership style. He was a commander par excellence.

So these were the commanders deploying to sectors including Nehanda, Chaminuka and Takawira.

N.M: You were at Tembue when it came under attack by the Rhodesian soldiers. Can you give us your own version of the attack?

R.K: I vividly remember the attack at Tembue. I still go through sleepless nights. It was not a good sight. Many comrades died.

The attack came at a time artillery lessons were about to start. As a result, the big guns had been disassembled in preparation for practical training.

That was the time we came under attack.

But there were some brave comrades who later managed to assemble some of the big guns and started firing back at the enemy.

I think that helped minimise damage at this camp. But in the end, a lot of people perished.

Even though we knew that such scenarios are inevitable in the war, the death and damage at Tembue was very serious.

I witnessed death first-hand and it was a very sad and traumatising episode of the war.

I was injured by a shrapnel on my right knee during that attack.

The pain in my leg was so severe, I can even feel it today ndikafunga nezvayo.

Despite the injury, I managed, together with other comrades, to drag my leg and hid in the bush.

As someone who was part of the medics, I did some first aid on the wound and it helped reduce blood loss.

After that, takazoenda kugathering point. During the war and after any battle, there was a specific point where people would assemble.

At the gathering point, all the injured comrades, including myself, were taken to Tete.

At Tete, the number of the injured comrades was overwhelming for the medical team that was there.

I became part of those who were taken to Chimoio and stayed at Villa Perry Hospital for several months.

We stayed there nana Cde Moffat and Cde Audrey.

Cde Tongo, Cde Sekeramayi and other comrades frequently visited this hospital to check on us.

After recovery, I fell pregnant and was taken to Osibisa, which was a camp for pregnant women and children.

As a trained midwife and medic, I continued with my roles at this camp.

All the female combatants who were pregnant and those with children, this was their home.

NM: We hear stories of sexual abuse of female combatants during the struggle, what was your experience?

RK: Yes, the cases of sexual abuse were rampant. But as expected, in a war situation, relationships were unavoidable, especially when men and women gather at the same place.

Some Cdes vaitoita slogan yekuti hondo yeChina yakapedziswa nevazukuru meaning those born during the war will continue with the struggle.

There were srong warnings against abortion during the war.

Many comrades fell pregnant during the war. Some of the pregnancies came as a result of comrades falling in love.

We also had cases of some comrades who abused their positions to take advantage of women; such comrades were either demoted or transferred.

But these cases became more pronounced towards the end of the liberation struggle.

We also had cases of commanders who would dispatch their aides to some girls. Zvaingodzi “nhingi urikudiwa nashefu”.

In such cases no one was aware kuti shefu varikudei so some girls would innocently go where they were summoned.

NM: After Osibisa, I understand it was towards the end of the struggle, what happened next?

R.K: I was at Osibisa in 1979 and remained there until ceasefire.

We were then moved to Rhodesia as we gathered at assembly points.

I was part of a group that went to Goromonzi Assembly Point.

There, my parents came to see me.

They were very happy to see me after almost five years. When they left, they took my child with them.

After demobilisation, I went to stay in Manyene, on the outskirts of Enkledoorn (now Chivhu) with my sister.

But I did not stay there for long before returning to Salisbury.

I came to Zengeza 3 where my cousin brother lived.

After a few days, I went to 88 Manica Road, the Zanu PF offices, to see Mai Sally Mugabe.

I saw her and requested for assistance to either go to school or get employed.

Mai Sally Mugabe was a very listening and helping person. She selected me to be part of a group that was taken to college to do a cutting and designing course.

After doing the course, Mai Mugabe helped some in our group to join the army, police and prison services.

I had seen enough of guns, so she helped me to join Chitungwiza Municipality health department.

Mai Sally also helped me acquire a house in Zengeza 2. That is where I am living.

I was given a lodger’s card to the house handina kuita imba yekuforera.

After some time, there was the issue of upgrading, according to your area of expertise, in the municipality. That is when I joined the security department.

I rose through the ranks until I retired in 2017 as a chief inspector after serving for 37 years. I retired on my own when I felt the need to rest.

NM: In conclusion, as a female ex-combatant, do you feel you have been recognised enough and your role as women is being appreciated?

RK: I feel my role as a female freedom fighter and roles of other female fighters in general have not been recognised enough in the political circles.

Even though strides are being made to improve the recognition of women in the country, more still needs to be done.

We are facing challenges as women to take up leading roles in politics due to some criminal elements who use money to bulldoze themselves into positions of authority.

I am now a member of Zanu-PF National Consultative Assembly; I lost my seat in the Central Committee due to competition from some male colleagues who used their financial muscle to get elected.

I appeal to the leadership in the Second Republic to address these issues so as to help women take up more leadership roles in the political sphere.

More women representation in decision- making positions will help in shaping a better society.

Indications are showing that women are taking up some decision-making roles, but we need more and we can prove that we are worth to lead as well.

Even when we were in the bush, we could take same roles as our male counterparts.

Even in the front, we had ana mai nanambuya who played important roles to bring about the independence we so dearly cherish.

Conclusively, while we were being oriented, we were repeatedly told that there will always be reactionary forces “zvigananda”, we still have the same people even up to today.

As women, we are affected by the high cost of living because we are the ones in charge of families.

We have these reactionary forces contributing to price increases and so forth and they have to be dealt with.