News / National
'Mphoko never abandoned struggle'
20 Mar 2016 at 09:22hrs | Views
VICE-PRESIDENT Phelekezela Mphoko was consistent throughout the armed struggle and those questioning his credentials were too junior to understand the deployment of people of his rank, a former member of the Zipra High Command, Retired Brigadier-General Abel Mazinyane said yesterday.
In an interview, Rtd Brig-Gen Mazinyane, the last Zipra chief of military intelligence whose other duties were to track and apprehend deserters said he does not recall VP Mphoko being listed as a deserter.
On Friday last week, war veterans chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa told the private media that VP Mphoko allegedly ditched his regiment in Mozambique to enjoy life with his then wife-to-be, Laurinda, who later became his wife in 1977. Mutsvangwa said Mphoko "went AWOL" from Zapu's military wing, Zipra, after he fell in love with Laurinda.
Without mentioning names, Rtd Brig-Gen Mazinyane said for the good of the country's armed struggle it would be good for people to confine themselves to what they know well.
"There is no harm for those who were junior during the war but senior today to consult those who are junior today but were senior during the war. Speculation should be avoided, said Rtd Brig-Gen Mazinyane.
He said if VP Mphoko had abandoned the armed struggle in 1976 as suggested by some quarters there was no way he was going to display a Rhodesian helicopter which was shot down by Zipra forces in Zambia and shown to the United Nations delegates at a conference in Mozambique in 1978, attend the burial of Zipra commander Alfred Nikita Rogers Mangena in Lusaka also in 1978.
Rtd Brig-Gen Mazinyane said VP Mphoko had also attended the funeral of Zapu Vice-President Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo in January 1977 when he was killed by a parcel bomb.
"VP Mphoko was also always a delegate of Patriotic Front meetings. From 1976 to 1979 Mphoko was a Zapu delegate at several international conferences including the Lancaster House Conference. Mphoko was at one point even short-listed to take over the command of Zipra following the death of our commander Mangena in 1978," he said.
"I was the last Zipra chief of military intelligence and like any other military establishment Zipra had deserters and those who want to know them should ask people who are an authority on Zipra. On top of the list of authorities are Comrades Mphoko and Ambrose Mutinhiri. I know there are others who wish were knowledgeable on Zipra issues, unfortunately they are not. Maybe they were talking about another Mphoko."
In an interview, Rtd Brig-Gen Mazinyane, the last Zipra chief of military intelligence whose other duties were to track and apprehend deserters said he does not recall VP Mphoko being listed as a deserter.
On Friday last week, war veterans chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa told the private media that VP Mphoko allegedly ditched his regiment in Mozambique to enjoy life with his then wife-to-be, Laurinda, who later became his wife in 1977. Mutsvangwa said Mphoko "went AWOL" from Zapu's military wing, Zipra, after he fell in love with Laurinda.
Without mentioning names, Rtd Brig-Gen Mazinyane said for the good of the country's armed struggle it would be good for people to confine themselves to what they know well.
He said if VP Mphoko had abandoned the armed struggle in 1976 as suggested by some quarters there was no way he was going to display a Rhodesian helicopter which was shot down by Zipra forces in Zambia and shown to the United Nations delegates at a conference in Mozambique in 1978, attend the burial of Zipra commander Alfred Nikita Rogers Mangena in Lusaka also in 1978.
Rtd Brig-Gen Mazinyane said VP Mphoko had also attended the funeral of Zapu Vice-President Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo in January 1977 when he was killed by a parcel bomb.
"VP Mphoko was also always a delegate of Patriotic Front meetings. From 1976 to 1979 Mphoko was a Zapu delegate at several international conferences including the Lancaster House Conference. Mphoko was at one point even short-listed to take over the command of Zipra following the death of our commander Mangena in 1978," he said.
"I was the last Zipra chief of military intelligence and like any other military establishment Zipra had deserters and those who want to know them should ask people who are an authority on Zipra. On top of the list of authorities are Comrades Mphoko and Ambrose Mutinhiri. I know there are others who wish were knowledgeable on Zipra issues, unfortunately they are not. Maybe they were talking about another Mphoko."
Source - sundaynews
