The Sunday Mail
Lincoln Towindo
Deputy News Editor
SOMETIME in 1973, the Rhodesian army launched a surprise attack on a group of freedom fighters that was transporting war materials to the front during the early and most intense stage of the Second Chimurenga. A brutal two-hour battle ensued somewhere close to the Mozambican border.
Two close friends — Cdes Onias Garikayi Gosha and Joel Samuel Siyangapi Muzhamba, whose Chimurenga names were George Gabarinocheka and Joseph Khumalo, respectively — were in the thick of things.
During the battle, Cde Khumalo was hit by a barrage of enemy bullets, disembowelling part of his abdomen. His fellow fighters all thought he had died.
Narrating the encounter to The Sunday Mail recently, Cde Gabarinocheka said: “Before we set out to go to the front, we went back to Zambia, that was around March 1972.
CDE ONIAS GARIKAYI GOSHA
“We went to Zambia, where Frelimo had a farm near Chifombo.
“From there, we would proceed on foot on a seven-day-long journey along the Zambezi basin to Mozambique.
“We were now ready to enter the war front. We were supposed to carry our first batch of war supplies into what was soon to become a raging war zone.
“I remember, it was during that journey that we lost many comrades after being spotted by the enemy.
Cde Joel Samuel Siyangapi Muzhamba
“I remember that we lost Cde Joseph Khumalo, who was killed in an ambush.
“Regardless of the losses, we continued into Rhodesia.”
Welcome discovery
Unbeknown to Cde Gabarinocheka, his friend narrowly survived the attack.
On his part, Cde Khumalo also thought his fellow comrade had been killed during the war.
It took 50 years for the two comrades to unite.
Last month, Cde Khumalo walked into The Sunday Mail newsroom, asking to see the journalist behind the article that had been published the previous weekend titled “We attacked Altena Farm to get publicity”.
“I am Joseph Khumalo,” he retorted with a smirk on his face.
“I was surprised to read that Cde Gaba is still living.
“They all thought that I had been killed in that battle. And up to now, we have not seen each other.” He then asked for Cde Gabarinocheka’s contact details after recounting how he had survived the Rhodesian assault.
Interestingly, Cde Khumalo had featured in The Sunday Mail’s Chronicles of the Second Chimurenga in 2016 – almost seven years ago.
Speaking to this publication back then, he said: “The leaders at the rear wanted to send some food to the war front so they called me to ask whether this was possible.
“It was me, Cde Tongo, Cde Mayor Urimbo and Cde Chauke at that meeting.
“I told them it was not necessary to send food because the povo was now providing food for the comrades.
“I told them the people who needed food were those who were carrying material.
“When I was coming from this meeting, that’s when I got into the battle where I was injured.
“We walked into an ambush.
“I had just assisted Cde Hwata to cross into Mozambique after he had been injured at the war front.
“I didn’t know that the Rhodesians were following Cde Hwata and his group.
“This Hwata is still alive.
“We fought in this battle for about two hours.
“We were about 18 because there were some Frelimo comrades.
“Four of them died in this battle.
“This is the battle where I got injured. One of our colleagues, Cde Tarisai Mabhunu, died during this battle.
“After I got injured, there was a sudden downpour of rain.
“Cde Binda and the other comrades stood their ground, defending me. Later in the night, they took me into Mozambique and in no time, we met Shefu Daulamanzi and his group.
“Up to now, I still have a bullet lodged between rib four and five. It’s very close to my heart.
“Doctors said they can’t remove that bullet because I may die. I was also shot in the leg and my arms. Up to this day, I don’t know how I survived.”
Sadly, the two comrades have not yet met.
Cde Khumalo told The Sunday Mail yesterday he is still trying to get through to his friend.
Twitter: @kuntowaz
