If we all were to quantify and put a price to the contributions made towards the liberation of Zimbabwe it would open up a pandora’s box. It then makes it absurd if not arrogant for a particular group of people to ‘claim’ that it is their sacrifice alone that led to our independence. We are not taking away anything from what they went through. Liberation was not for ‘one-body’, it was for ‘all- body'.

1. Looking back Into the Future Part 2
The Last Strawby Lenox Mhlanga
If we all were toquantifyandputa price to the contributionsmade towardsthe liberationof
Zimbabwe itwouldopenupapandora’s box. It thenmakesitabsurd if not arrogant fora particular
groupof people to‘claim’thatitis theirsacrifice alone thatledtoourindependence.We are not
takingawayanythingfromwhat theywentthrough.Liberationwasnotfor‘one-body’,itwas for‘all-
body’!
The problemhasbeenthatof entitlement,the impressionthatwe all have tocontinue topay
homage to our liberators. IbelieveIpaidmyprice throughlosttime and privileges.Insteadmy
fatherpenttime andmoneydrivingaroundthe countryside supplyingthe guerrillaswithfoodand
clothingunderthe guise of runninghisbusiness.
To himit wasan obligationtosupportthe struggle inthe bestwaythathe could andfor that he did
not expectanypaymentinreturn.Thatwas hiscontributionfreelygiven.Donotgetme wrong.I
grewup inan environment where the source of ournextmeal wasneverinquestion.Yetwe were
neverobliviousof the crisisthatwasfast paralysingthe country.
The signswere there aroundthe citywere we grew up; the militarypresence andthe cookedup
reportsand stage managedcapture of ‘terrorists’forpropagandapurposes.Yes,the mediareally
playeditup,inthe white regime’sfavourof course. Iwouldnothave appreciatedthe directionthe
war was goingif I hadnot beentoboardingschool at FletcherinGweru.
There were occasional raidsonbeer-hallsasthe white armydredgedforcannonfodder.Noone in
hisrightmindwouldhave volunteeredtofightontheirside againsttheirownbrothersandsisters.
Evenin schoolsmanywere pressgangedintothe effortinthatinfamousandmuchdetestedpractice
called‘call-up.’
The arrests were relentless.JoshuaNkomo,FatherZimbabwe,whoIhadthe privilegetomeetso
manytimesand alsoto playa role inthe live broadcastof hisfuneral,wasarrestedanddetained.So
were myfather’sfriendsSidneyMalunga,JohnNkomo,LazarusDlakamaamongotherswere also
‘restricted.’Myfatherescapedarrestbutthe dangerwas everpresent,the hushedtoneswhichhe
spoke toothersabout impi and abafana wereaclearindicationof that.
The Rhodesiansglorifiedwarandeverythingrevolvedaroundwhattheycalledthe ‘wareffort.’It
was patrioticforeveryone topull togetherandevenwatchtheysaidbecause ‘wallshave ears.’
There wasa thinline betweenbeingatraitorand a supporter.People whosupportedthe ‘terrs’as
theycolloquiallyputitwere dealtwithdecisively.
Thenthere wasthe curfewdesignedtostifle suppliesandcontrol movement.We didn’thave
‘protectedvillages’ inLowerGweru unlike inMukumburayetthe trips tosee gogo MaNkiwane were
gettingfarand inbetween. Protectedvillageswere glorifiedmassprisonswhere whole villages
were barricadedtopreventthe fish(the guerrillas)fromgettingtothe water(the people) asMao
once postulated.
Gogo MaNkiwane ismylate paternal grandmotherwhowouldregale uswithtalesof war. She was
the funnypersonIhave everknown,save formy motherof course.So we have funnybonesrunning
on bothsidesof the family. The guerrillasstill made itahabitto leave wishlistswithourrural
relativesformyfathertosupply.Itwouldbe the popular‘farmershoes’orveldskoens,khakhi outfits
or medical supplies.

2. By the time I movedtoboardingschool in1978 the war had reachedfeverpitch.We gotfirsthand
reportsof the war fromvariousparts of the country throughschool mates.We evenlearnt
Chimurengasongssungat Pungwes.The camaraderie acrosspolitical lineswasinfectious.Such
revolutionaryfireswere stockedbythe externalradiostationsthe pumpedupthe ante fromZambia
and Mozambique.
Some of our schoolmatesliveddoublelivesasinnocentlookingschoolboysattermtime and as
daringmujibhas orinformersduringthe holidays.Othersnevercame back to school eitherhaving
beingabsorbedintothe busharmiesorworse.Whatwas plainandobviousevenatthistime was
that the war affectedeveryone indifferentwaysandthatwe all contributedinone wayor the other.
It isin thiscontextthatmy father,asI intimatedlastweek,becamedisillusionedwiththe liberators
whoassumedthe monopolyof havingbroughtindependence tothiscountrybypersonalisingthe
revolution.The modestmanhe still is,he welcomedall mannerof political activisttohis doorstep
whenwe eventuallywonourfreedom.
His hospitalityevensawthe likesof ThaboMbeki,JacobZumaand ChrisHani,thenstayingat
RichmondandTrenance come to our shopko J Tembain Gwabalandaasthe ANCof SouthAfrica
preparedtheirfinal assaultonthe apartheidregime.Ihadthe privilege andhonourtomeetthemin
the flesh.
Nextweekwe discoverthe final strawthatbroke myfather’sdirectinvolvementinpoliticsandhow
the seedsof rebellionwere transferredtothe son.
Ends//