The Sunday Mail
LAST week, Cde JOHN DZINORUMA MUBAKO (JDM) recounted how circumstances forced him to relocate from Zambia to Botswana. This followed the persecution of cadres involved in the liberation struggle in Zambia after the Rhodesian regime assassinated ZANU chairperson Cde Herbert Chitepo. In this instalment, he recalls one of the battles he fought as a liberation fighter. He tells our Political Editor KUDA BWITITI (KB) how, as a commander, he thwarted a surprise Rhodesian attack on combatants who were having a meeting with civilians.
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KB: Cde Mubako, please take us through how the military training you received prepared you for war.
JDM: I was privileged to receive training twice.
At first, I trained at Chimbi-Chimbi in Zambia. That training was for two months.
I trained with several decorated war veterans such as Cde Joice “Teurai Ropa” Mujuru.
I trained again for another six months at Mgagao, Tanzania, after the death of Cde Chitepo. This training meant that I was now a skilled combatant, who could do much more than just fire a gun.
Among other things, I was trained to anticipate enemy attacks and to guide other fighters. I also received training in military intelligence.
Because of these multiple skills, I was later appointed commander of my platoon. My Chimurenga name was Cde Ebby Tinorwakusvikataitora.
KB: How and where were you deployed to fight the war?
JDM: After that training at Mgagao, we went to Mozambique, during the time of the détente.
We lived in Chimoio for a while, then went to Xai-Xai, which is in southern Mozambique, Gaza province.
So, we were deployed to Gaza province to take part in the war. I was in the personnel department.
This was the unit responsible for compiling documents that we used to call “three check-ups”.
We collected these documents from each one of our freedom fighters. So, this was one of my main assignments during the war.
The unfortunate thing is that all these documents were burnt during one of the battles fought by the comrades.
For me, this was a regrettable part of the war, as we lost crucial archives that were rich in profiling the gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe.
So, after my time in the personnel department, I was appointed platoon commander.
KB: Where did you operate?
JDM: I was then deployed to the Mapai area, Mozambique, in 1978.
This was the last base where guerrillas were stationed before they could come back to the front. I also operated in Ngundu, along the road to Beitbridge, and this is the area where I fought most of the battles that I was involved in during the war.
KB: Please, tell us about some of the battles.
JDM: One of the battles that I vividly remember happened in 1978, near Dare School in Ngundu.
We were at a pungwe (all-night vigil) in the village, at our base.
We were caught off-guard when Rhodesian forces suddenly attacked us.
One of our comrades was in the middle of the circle, educating other fighters and the povo about the war.
Then, all of a sudden, we heard a loud gunshot. We realised that the enemy had launched an ambush.
We had to act fast.
As a commander, I told my comrades not to fire back immediately, because there were civilians in the firing line.
After we had made sure that civilians were safe, I then ordered my men to start firing back.
One of our fighters had a bazooka, which he launched at the enemy.
Another fighter, who had a Mortar 60, also fired it at the enemy.
These two moments were the turning point of that battle.
That ammunition was powerful, as we heard Rhodesian forces wailing in agony. We hit them hard because they did not expect we would have a bazooka at the pungwe event.
There were about 30 Rhodesian soldiers and we went for them, killing several of them, whilst others scattered in different directions.
We were brave and determined to win that battle to protect civilians.
We fought gallantly on that day.
It was quite a battle because we were fighting while protecting the civilians, at the same time. We wanted to make sure we defeated the enemy so that the masses would take pride in us.
KB: As a commander, how did you manage to outwit the enemy during the battle?
JDM: As they were firing, I hid behind a tree, while barking instructions to my fighters. Some bullets they fired hit close to where I was, but none of their shots hit me. So, I continued firing my sub-machine gun, all the while hiding behind the tree.
What made us win that battle was the Mortar 60 and bazooka that we had in our platoon. Our bazooka man acted valiantly.
Also, I remain proud of that battle because no civilians were killed.
The enemy underestimated our capacity because they assumed that being at a pungwe meeting would make us vulnerable.
Next week, Cde Mubako will narrate to us another fierce battle he was involved in.
