Sunday, 21 August 2011 02:10 Local News
By Emilia Zindi
“Taigara mumakomo, magorira mumakomo, taimhanyamhanya takabata sabhu tichishingirira Zimbabwe. Vakomana, vasikana, Zimbabwe, magorira munguva yehondo, hona taimhanya-mhanya takabata sabhu tichishingirira Zimbabwe.”
THIS song will always remind liberation war veterans of the late national hero, Cde Rex Nhongo (Retired General Solomon Tapfumaneyi Mujuru).
The legendary freedom fighter and army commander was known for using his dancing skills to motivate young combatants who had joined the liberation struggle.
With Cde Chinx (Dickson Chingaira) leading the vocals in the middle of the bush at a base in Mozambique, combatants under the tutelage of the late Cde Nhongo would indeed forget the hardships that were associated with the armed struggle once their commander took to the dance floor.
Those who worked with the late national hero last week spoke passionately and at length on how Cde Rex Nhongo would inspire young recruits (both male and female) to soldier on when the going got tough.
With female combatants, Cde Nhongo was more of a father as he would always remind them that they had joined the liberation struggle not as women, but as soldiers who were expected to behave likewise.
One female combatant who recalls how Cde Nhongo made life easier for women in the struggle is Cde Chipo Mafararikwa.
She first worked with Cde Nhongo in Zambia after the arrest of the late Cde Josiah Tongogara and others on suspicion of plotting the death of Cde Herbert Chitepo in 1975.
“I accompanied Cde Nhongo from Zambia to Tanzania where he was to lead the struggle while Cde Tongogara was in detention in Zambia,’’ recalled Cde Mafararikwa.
She and three other female combatants, namely Cathreen Garanewako, Serbia and Loveness Taitezvi Mogarepi and two young men fled with Cde Nhongo to Mgagao in Tanzania.
There they became the first female combatants to live at the base, which was only for male combatants.
From that time at Mgagao, the late Cde Nhongo, who had assumed charge of the liberation struggle, proved beyond doubt that he was a true liberator.
“It was at Mgagao where Cde Nhongo taught us as female combatants that the war of liberation would not have a meaning if female combatants did not go to the front,’’ she said.
She recalled the arrival of Cde Robert Mugabe in Tanzania where she and her three female colleagues were assigned to go and welcome him in Dar es Salaam.
“After meeting President Mugabe, we were told by Cde Nhongo that we were to move to Mozambique,’’ she said.
She said they travelled with Cde Nhongo on a ship to Maputo for three days and, along the way, Cde Nhongo would not stop lecturing them on the armed struggle for independence.
In 1977, Cde Nhongo directed that female combatants be sent to the front.
“Our group was appointed to go to the front where we carried ammunition as we reinforced our male counterparts who were already on the front,’’ she recalled.
She remembered the humourous side of Cde Nhongo who would constantly tease her by singing Zexie Manatsa’s hit song “Chipo Chirorwa (Tipemberere)” which was released back then in the 70s.
“He would sing that song and dance at the same time. I remember asking him why he always sang that song each time we were about to go to the front and he would just laugh,’’ recalled Cde Chipo.
She said the late commander was so humble and would always crack jokes when morale was low in the camps.
“He was so fatherly and whenever a combatant was down, he would find a way to cheer him or her up.”
Another female combatant, Cde Jilly Flamingo (Irene Zindi), said: “He was more of a friend than a commander to me when we lived with him at Chimoio, Mabvondo and all the other military bases in Mozambique.’’
She recalled a day when Cde Nhongo brought chickens and mealie-meal for the combatants when they had gone for days without food.
“We managed to cook that meat for three days. There was high morale in the camp with the commander around,’’ she said.
“He was so humble that he would associate with any combatant regardless of rank.
“We would eat with him from one plate despite the fact that he was our commander. He was quite a charismatic person who would get along with every one, finding conversation with the most junior combatant,’’ she said.
“He was a good strategist, formidable and able to lead the struggle after Cde Tongo’s death,’’ she said.
She said he would give orders, which no one would defy.
“Once he said “Ndinopika namai vangu Maidei” every one would do exactly as he directed.
She said his teachings at the Political Academy at Mampoa made her even stronger as she became one of the first female combatants to be sent to the front by the late Cde Nhongo.
“He was the commander sending reinforcements to the front. That is when we were selected as the first group of women to bring in heavy artillery,’’ said Cde Flamingo.
She said most people thought Cde Nhongo would not survive the war but his bravery and military genius had seen him through.
Cde Chinx said he would forever remember Cde Nhongo as his mentor.
“I hope and trust our spirits and those of his family shall guide us as to what transpired as it is difficult to believe that he waited for the fire to engulf him to ashes,’’ said Cde Chinx.
He said as a commander, Cde Nhongo had taught and trained him how to run away from fires.
“Taigara mumakomo, magorira mumakomo, taimhanyamhanya takabata sabhu tichishingirira Zimbabwe. Vakomana, vasikana, Zimbabwe, magorira munguva yehondo, hona taimhanya-mhanya takabata sabhu tichishingirira Zimbabwe.”
THIS song will always remind liberation war veterans of the late national hero, Cde Rex Nhongo (Retired General Solomon Tapfumaneyi Mujuru).
The legendary freedom fighter and army commander was known for using his dancing skills to motivate young combatants who had joined the liberation struggle.
With Cde Chinx (Dickson Chingaira) leading the vocals in the middle of the bush at a base in Mozambique, combatants under the tutelage of the late Cde Nhongo would indeed forget the hardships that were associated with the armed struggle once their commander took to the dance floor.
Those who worked with the late national hero last week spoke passionately and at length on how Cde Rex Nhongo would inspire young recruits (both male and female) to soldier on when the going got tough.
With female combatants, Cde Nhongo was more of a father as he would always remind them that they had joined the liberation struggle not as women, but as soldiers who were expected to behave likewise.
One female combatant who recalls how Cde Nhongo made life easier for women in the struggle is Cde Chipo Mafararikwa.
She first worked with Cde Nhongo in Zambia after the arrest of the late Cde Josiah Tongogara and others on suspicion of plotting the death of Cde Herbert Chitepo in 1975.
“I accompanied Cde Nhongo from Zambia to Tanzania where he was to lead the struggle while Cde Tongogara was in detention in Zambia,’’ recalled Cde Mafararikwa.
She and three other female combatants, namely Cathreen Garanewako, Serbia and Loveness Taitezvi Mogarepi and two young men fled with Cde Nhongo to Mgagao in Tanzania.
There they became the first female combatants to live at the base, which was only for male combatants.
From that time at Mgagao, the late Cde Nhongo, who had assumed charge of the liberation struggle, proved beyond doubt that he was a true liberator.
“It was at Mgagao where Cde Nhongo taught us as female combatants that the war of liberation would not have a meaning if female combatants did not go to the front,’’ she said.
She recalled the arrival of Cde Robert Mugabe in Tanzania where she and her three female colleagues were assigned to go and welcome him in Dar es Salaam.
“After meeting President Mugabe, we were told by Cde Nhongo that we were to move to Mozambique,’’ she said.
She said they travelled with Cde Nhongo on a ship to Maputo for three days and, along the way, Cde Nhongo would not stop lecturing them on the armed struggle for independence.
In 1977, Cde Nhongo directed that female combatants be sent to the front.
“Our group was appointed to go to the front where we carried ammunition as we reinforced our male counterparts who were already on the front,’’ she recalled.
She remembered the humourous side of Cde Nhongo who would constantly tease her by singing Zexie Manatsa’s hit song “Chipo Chirorwa (Tipemberere)” which was released back then in the 70s.
“He would sing that song and dance at the same time. I remember asking him why he always sang that song each time we were about to go to the front and he would just laugh,’’ recalled Cde Chipo.
She said the late commander was so humble and would always crack jokes when morale was low in the camps.
“He was so fatherly and whenever a combatant was down, he would find a way to cheer him or her up.”
Another female combatant, Cde Jilly Flamingo (Irene Zindi), said: “He was more of a friend than a commander to me when we lived with him at Chimoio, Mabvondo and all the other military bases in Mozambique.’’
She recalled a day when Cde Nhongo brought chickens and mealie-meal for the combatants when they had gone for days without food.
“We managed to cook that meat for three days. There was high morale in the camp with the commander around,’’ she said.
“He was so humble that he would associate with any combatant regardless of rank.
“We would eat with him from one plate despite the fact that he was our commander. He was quite a charismatic person who would get along with every one, finding conversation with the most junior combatant,’’ she said.
“He was a good strategist, formidable and able to lead the struggle after Cde Tongo’s death,’’ she said.
She said he would give orders, which no one would defy.
“Once he said “Ndinopika namai vangu Maidei” every one would do exactly as he directed.
She said his teachings at the Political Academy at Mampoa made her even stronger as she became one of the first female combatants to be sent to the front by the late Cde Nhongo.
“He was the commander sending reinforcements to the front. That is when we were selected as the first group of women to bring in heavy artillery,’’ said Cde Flamingo.
She said most people thought Cde Nhongo would not survive the war but his bravery and military genius had seen him through.
Cde Chinx said he would forever remember Cde Nhongo as his mentor.
“I hope and trust our spirits and those of his family shall guide us as to what transpired as it is difficult to believe that he waited for the fire to engulf him to ashes,’’ said Cde Chinx.
He said as a commander, Cde Nhongo had taught and trained him how to run away from fires.
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