The Sunday Mail
IN this instalment, Cde Sando Kano narrates how his group ran out of ammunition and was overrun. He recounts to our Senior Reporter, TENDAI CHARA, what transpired on that dark day when seven of his comrades were killed.
Cde Sando Kano
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Q: In the last chapter, you were narrating the acts of sabotage that your group carried out in Gaza Province, particularly in Rutenga and Chiredzi. If you can kindly continue.
A: Like I said previously, our group was operating in Sector 2, which was the Mpapa area. We were also operating in the Hippo Valley area. I spent six months in Mpapa and our sectorial commander was Watson Mujuru. He died during the ceasefire period.
Q: From Mpapa, where was your group deployed?
A: From Mpapa, we were deployed to Mberengwa under Detachment 2. That was in 1977. We were now based in Nyamhondo Village. During our time in Nyamhondo, we conducted acts of sabotage, blowing up a sugar-laden locomotive which was on its way from Rutenga to Zvishavane.
We also derailed another locomotive that was ferrying sugar from Chiredzi. After derailing the train, the povo came and looted the sugar.
When the Rhodesian forces came and tried to stop people from looting the sugar, we shelled them heavily. They retreated and the povo returned and continued looting.
We blew up and derailed many locomotives.
Q: Where exactly were you operating in Mberengwa?
A: Nyamhondo is located in Mberengwa. We were operating in such areas as Mataga, Msume, Mapiravana, Mhiri KwaNegare, Machebadza and near Sandawana Mine, up to Mnene Hospital. Our area of operation encompassed areas surrounding Buchwa Mine.
We also operated in Chingechuru where we took emeralds and gave them to the povo who would buy jeans for us. In the Nyamhondo area, we had the Marasha and Stondido bases.
We worked very well with such local people as Mabhena, a businessman who gave us sugar, condensed milk, bread, groceries and clothes.
Mabhena supported the war effort.
He also supplied us with the fertiliser that we used make bombs that we used to derail the locomotives. We also gave him emeralds which he would sell on our behalf.
Our group was responsible for recruiting students from Msume Mission to join the liberation war. In 1977, we recruited students at Msume Mission and Chegato High School.
What we were doing was that we were fighting the enemy and at the same time recruiting.
The recruits would go to Mozambique through Mpapa and then Gonarezhou.
We recruited in the areas that we were operating in as a way of bonding with the parents and it was a way of making sure that the parents would not become sell-outs.
Q: How many battles were you engaged in in Mberengwa?
A: We fought many battles in Mberengwa. We attacked Nyala, a massive Rhodesian Army camp in Mataga Village. We usually bombed the camps in surprise attacks either in the middle of the night or early in the morning, say around 3am.
When bombing Rhodesian military establishments, we normally preferred the mortar 82, which had a bigger range and would hit targets that are much further. In guerrilla warfare, the mortar 82 is heavy artillery.
We often operated in groups of seven, but when we attacked military camps, we formed a platoon of say 45, 50 or 60. At times we even had groups of up to 100.
After bombing the camps, we would then retreat, hide the big weapons in caves and then use our AK47s.
Q: Which was the biggest battle that you fought in Mberengwa?
A: We fought many major battles in Mberengwa. However, there is this one battle that I will never forget: the battle was fought in 1978 at Ngungumbane, Marasha base.
What happened was that we had gone out of our area to an area called Suwita, which is near Mnene Hospital. On our way back, we were told by the mujibhas that Rhodesia forces were in the area.
The Rhodesian army and Ma Skuz Apo were more than 300.
Q: What are ma Skuz apo?
A: They were also called Madzakutsaku. These were black soldiers that were fighting on the side of the Rhodesian Army.
Some were forced to work for the Rhodesians after they had been captured by the enemy. Some of them were members of Pfumo reRopa, others were Muzorewa’s soldiers.
They behaved as if they were genuine guerrillas with the intention of causing confusion and therefore derail the war. The enemy was now using many tactics.
Q: You were narrating about the battle…
A: Yes…, after getting wind of the presence of the Rhodesian forces in this liberated area, we decided to mount an attack. I was a detachment commander and I was leading a group of 17 fighters.
Among the fighters was Dr Zu News Tichatonga, his real name was Simon Bakare of the Nyathi totem. He was from Rusape and we trained together in East Africa.
Around 9pm we took our positions and shelled the Rhodesian camp heavily.
I was using the mortar 60. After shelling the camp for hours we retreated and as were moving to our base, we were very tired and decided to take a nap.
That proved to be a grave mistake. We overslept. Takaedzerwa.
When we finally woke up, the sun had already risen and we were exposed.
Rhodesian forces who were on top of a hill saw us and called for reinforcements.
That is when all hell broke loose.
Q: You can continue…
A: We proceeded to our base and little did we know that we had been spotted by the enemy. Barely 20 minutes after arriving at the base, the bombing began.
It happened when I was coming from conducting traditional rituals.
Q: Traditional rituals?
A: Yes, during the war we performed traditional rituals. Once we arrive in an area, we would seek permission from the spirit mediums, Mbuya Nehanda, Chaminuka, Kaguvi and Nehoreka.
We also prayed to God for protection.
As I was advancing towards my position, I saw a female ground hornbill (Dendera) and I knew it was a sign of a bad omen.
During the war, we had a mysterious understanding with animals and birds. Without being aware, a guerrilla could sleep on a python but for strange reasons, the snake would not attack.
Animals and birds acted as spirit mediums and we were not allowed to shoot them.
Q: Tell us, what happened next?
A: As I was pondering about the bad omen, the bombers arrived. The planes were flying in low positions and were following the route of the river.
You know when a plane follows the route of the river, one can only hear its sound when the plane is near you. Upon seeing the planes, my fellow comrades began to shoot at them before I even gave them the orders to shoot.
Q: In a way you are saying the Cdes panicked? Were they not supposed to wait for your orders?
A: No, not at all! In war situations, there are times when a fighter cannot wait for instructions from the commander. We were trained to use common sense.
We were bombarded from all angles.
We fought gallantly, but the enemy was well-prepared for the battle. The enemy used helicopters, Dakotas, Scout planes and the stealthy Vampires.
The enemy would bomb our positions, fly back to Thornhill Airbase in Gweru, reload and come back for us. Forced into a corner, we fought back as if we were possessed. Pakaridzwa pfuti ipapa.
The battle started at around 7am and only ended seven hours later when we ran out of ammunition. We downed two planes and the Rhodesians also lost a number of soldiers.
After my AK 47 ran out of bullets, I took my pistol but again, the bullets were also running out.
After running out of ammunition, I had three options, either to commit suicide, surrender or try to escape.
I decided to surrender and the Rhodesian soldiers apprehended me.
Sadly, we lost seven fighters and five escaped. Myself, Cde Tichatonga and Cde Chisi Chenyu were captured.
In our next episode, Cde Sando will tells us how he was severely tortured by the Rhodesian forces and also how they tried to entice him to become a sell-out. He also narrates his daring escape from the Rhodesians and how he later rejoined his comrades.
