Our training was so rigorous that some quit along the way

This week, CDE TOBIAS KANYONGO (TK), whose Chimurenga name was Bomber Chimukwende, tells our Features and Arts Editor PRINCE MUSHAWEVATO (PM) how he and his friend linked up with other freedom fighters after crossing into Mozambique. He also chronicles the challenges they faced before they were eventually transferred to East Africa for military training.

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PM: Last week, we ended our discussion when you had crossed into Mozambique, just after midnight. What happened next?

TK: On the other side — Mozambique — we did not know where to start, and the night did not make things any easier for us.

We needed directions to the nearest freedom fighters’ camp so that we could connect with them. However, we did not immediately find anyone to assist us. But, as time passed, we met some locals who assisted us.

They gave us directions and we proceeded to a tarred road that connects Mozambique and Malawi. We walked until we bumped into a group of comrades that was escorting war collaborators from Zimbabwe into Mozambique.

We summoned enough courage to approach them. We were subjected to thorough vetting.

After successfully identifying ourselves and making our intentions known, we were allowed to join the group. We followed them until we got to Changara and rested.

The following morning, we proceeded to Tete.

PM: How was the situation there?

TK: We did not stay long in Tete.

The leadership in the area quickly arranged transport for us to be transferred to Tembwe. This was where I came face to face with real challenges of the liberation struggle.

Food was scarce and many comrades were dying of hunger.

Also, matekenya was causing challenges for us. A number of people died because of hunger and a disease called matekenya. For a moment, I thought I was going to die before I got the chance to come back home and join the front.

The mortality rate was very high in this camp. It was disturbing!

PM: How did you survive the situation and how long did you stay there?

TK: This was a very tricky situation and there was not much that one could do.

I just prayed and left everything in God’s hands and my ancestors. But my friend and I were fortunate that we did not stay at Tembwe for long. We arrived in August and after about a month, we made it onto the list of people who were shortlisted to travel to Tanzania for training.  We travelled by air from Beira and dropped off at Chingweya in the East African country.

Initially, we were supposed to undergo a one-year training — covering both regular and guerrilla warfare — at Regiment Eight, but we ended up training for one-and-a-half years.

Regular warfare involves direct contact with the enemy, while guerrilla warfare is more about striking the enemy and strategically retreating. Adjacent to our camp was Regiment Nine, which was close to a dam. There were about 1 800 trainees from the two regiments.

PM: Why was your training period extended?

TK: As I indicated, we specialised in two combat styles, regular and guerrilla, which made us a rare group of fighters.

The instructors and commanders wanted to produce a fine unit that would intensify the war back home.  The training was so rigorous that some would quit along the way.

As we went through our training, news filtered through to Ian Smith back home that a powerful unit had been created and was almost ready for deployment.

The colonial regime was already struggling to contain freedom fighters already at the front and such news was bound to unsettle them.

As anticipated, the information sent shivers down their spines to the extent that the Rhodesians started to keenly follow our progress and movements. They tried to figure out ways to eliminate us before crossing back into Zimbabwe. Resultantly, when we were about to complete training, enemy fighters set naval mines to blow ships that were supposed to ferry us back home from East Africa.

Fortunately, our intelligence team was very alert.  They learnt about the planned attack and we were airlifted from Chingweya to Mozambique. The enemy waited for us but we never came. They later discovered that we had already been transferred back to Mozambique by air.

PM: What happened next?

TK: They were frustrated when they learnt we had safely moved to Mozambique and they changed their plans. The Rhodesians were so determined to maintain colonial rule that they were prepared go to unimaginable lengths to keep it that way.

A few days after we settled in Mozambique, they sent a message and even made public announcements on radio that they knew where we were based. They threatened, rather promised, to attack us on September 20, in a foreign country. One of our commanders at the camp, Cde Josiah Tongogara, immediately came to address us about the imminent assault.

He asked if we all knew about Smith’s intentions to attack the base. He gave us an option to vacate the camp before the attack or to stay put and square off with the Rhodesian fighters.

We unanimously went for the latter option.

Running was out of the question.

We told Commander Tongogara that we were first going to wait for the attack before later joining the struggle back home.

We wanted to show the Rhodesian army that we were no pushovers.

The training we had received in Tanzania was thorough. We were confident we would stand our ground. Morale was high in the camp. Everyone was itching to fight.

Cde Tongogara was impressed by our decision and attitude.

PM: Was there any strategy ahead of the September 20 attack?

TK : Definitely! Remember, the comrades were still fresh from training and wanted a feel of a real war experience. We spent days putting our defence mechanism in place.

We created trenches right round the base and set our weapons at strategic points.

Enough food was supplied.

When everything was in place, everyone went into position and got ready for the battle.

Next week, Cde Kanyongo will talk about the Rhodesian attack and the resistance the soldiers encountered.