Opinion / Columnist
' I don't need Dabengwa, to approve my war credentials' - VP Mphoko
29 Dec 2014 at 13:48hrs | Views
This response is especially directed mainly to Mr. Casper Dube and others who genuinely want to know about my history.
Mr. Caspa Dube
When a dog or dogs bark, you dont bark back. However, for the sake of the record especially to those genuine, who need to know the truth as we made history, I wish to point out that no amount of lies or smear campaign can turn me into a sell out.
If Dabengwa ever said I deserted ZAPU, to join ZANU, during the struggle, then he is a cheap and pathetic lier that deserve no respect. He might have succeded to lie that Nikita was an enemy agent, he wont win with me.
First and foremost, I don't need Dabengwa, to approve my war credentials. He was never my commander, he never recruited me and he was never a member of ZPRA. I did not join the army, I am a founder member of the the 1965 Military Planning Committee and later a founder member, of ZPRA in 1972.
There were some 39 ZPRA soldiers that had been arrested in Tete Province of Mozambique, including senior ZPRA commanders like Tapson Nkomani, and Javan Maseko.
I was tasked to remain behind by the ZPRA command to send all our personnel back to Zambia and hide ZPRA properties which included cars. Air tickets were bought for every one including Nikita, John Dube, Zwangami, Enock Sebele and many others.
After that I got arrested and thrown into an Island prison at the instigation of ZANLA/ZIPA commanders. I was released when the leadership of all Zimbabwe political parties had been called to meet in Maputo and discuss the proposed Geneva talks.
From prison I went straight to the meeting chaired by Prsident Samora Machel. From that meeting, I joined the ZAPU delegation of J.Z Moyo, Silundika and others to Tanzania via Nyadzozia. President Mugabe, Chikerema, Muzorewa and Sithole were also there.
In Dar. The leaders of the Front Line State and that of Zimbabwe met first with the remnants of ZANLA/ZIPA commanders who were refusing to accept the ZAPU/ZANU leaders. However they were dismissed by the Frontine Presidents.
When I was arrested in Mozambique, ZANLA took the ZPRA car that I was using.
JZ Moyo raised my case to President Samora Machel and the issued of ZAPU'S Representation in Mozambique. President Machel gave instructions to Chiviti to go to Chimoio and bring the car back. He was ordered to take it for repairs at the Mozambican government expense.
I was appointed ZAPU'S representative whilest we were in Dar. On arrival in Maputo, I was accommodated at Cardoso hotel for 3 months before ZAPU and ZANU were given houses and offices. That is how I became a ZAPU representative in Mozambique.
That was then followed by the formation of the Patriotic Front on 30 October 1976 in Maputo. The ZAPU delegation from Lusaka Zambia included Dabengwa. The Patriotic Front then created a commission of inquiry as to what led to the callapse of ZIPA. The commission was led from ZAPU by George Silundika, Dabengwa, Nkomani, Mutihniri, Report Mphoko and ZANU had Muzenda, Mutumbuka, Rex Nongo, Tungamirai, Mark Dube.
In 1979, I joined the ZAPU delegstion at the Lancester House Peace Talks as a ZPRA Military deligate. ZPRA commanders: Akim Ndlovu, Philip the Sibanda and Report Mphoko. ZANLA: Tongogara, Tungamirai, and Mark Dube. Dabengwa and Ushewekunze represented the political leadership.
With this scenario, when then did I join ZANU? When I left London I went to Maputo via Moscow. The Russians would not have hosted me if I was not ZAPU and ZPRA.
On CIO, I was transferred from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare Department of Employment and Employment Development to Branch 2 of CIO which is the Diplomatic Division in the Organisation in September 1987 and posted to Maputo.
Former Dabengwa's operatives in National Security and Order (NSO) were the ones in Brach 1 that was direct dealing with the internal situation in the country. Not me.
If you are in Zimbabwe, I am prepared to meet you for an in depth account of the struggle. Dont listen to some of these stories. There are a creation of former Rhedesian agents who are still opetational.
Remember that the armed struggle was fought under strict secrecy to protect lives.
Mr. Caspa Dube
When a dog or dogs bark, you dont bark back. However, for the sake of the record especially to those genuine, who need to know the truth as we made history, I wish to point out that no amount of lies or smear campaign can turn me into a sell out.
If Dabengwa ever said I deserted ZAPU, to join ZANU, during the struggle, then he is a cheap and pathetic lier that deserve no respect. He might have succeded to lie that Nikita was an enemy agent, he wont win with me.
First and foremost, I don't need Dabengwa, to approve my war credentials. He was never my commander, he never recruited me and he was never a member of ZPRA. I did not join the army, I am a founder member of the the 1965 Military Planning Committee and later a founder member, of ZPRA in 1972.
There were some 39 ZPRA soldiers that had been arrested in Tete Province of Mozambique, including senior ZPRA commanders like Tapson Nkomani, and Javan Maseko.
I was tasked to remain behind by the ZPRA command to send all our personnel back to Zambia and hide ZPRA properties which included cars. Air tickets were bought for every one including Nikita, John Dube, Zwangami, Enock Sebele and many others.
After that I got arrested and thrown into an Island prison at the instigation of ZANLA/ZIPA commanders. I was released when the leadership of all Zimbabwe political parties had been called to meet in Maputo and discuss the proposed Geneva talks.
From prison I went straight to the meeting chaired by Prsident Samora Machel. From that meeting, I joined the ZAPU delegation of J.Z Moyo, Silundika and others to Tanzania via Nyadzozia. President Mugabe, Chikerema, Muzorewa and Sithole were also there.
In Dar. The leaders of the Front Line State and that of Zimbabwe met first with the remnants of ZANLA/ZIPA commanders who were refusing to accept the ZAPU/ZANU leaders. However they were dismissed by the Frontine Presidents.
When I was arrested in Mozambique, ZANLA took the ZPRA car that I was using.
JZ Moyo raised my case to President Samora Machel and the issued of ZAPU'S Representation in Mozambique. President Machel gave instructions to Chiviti to go to Chimoio and bring the car back. He was ordered to take it for repairs at the Mozambican government expense.
I was appointed ZAPU'S representative whilest we were in Dar. On arrival in Maputo, I was accommodated at Cardoso hotel for 3 months before ZAPU and ZANU were given houses and offices. That is how I became a ZAPU representative in Mozambique.
That was then followed by the formation of the Patriotic Front on 30 October 1976 in Maputo. The ZAPU delegation from Lusaka Zambia included Dabengwa. The Patriotic Front then created a commission of inquiry as to what led to the callapse of ZIPA. The commission was led from ZAPU by George Silundika, Dabengwa, Nkomani, Mutihniri, Report Mphoko and ZANU had Muzenda, Mutumbuka, Rex Nongo, Tungamirai, Mark Dube.
In 1979, I joined the ZAPU delegstion at the Lancester House Peace Talks as a ZPRA Military deligate. ZPRA commanders: Akim Ndlovu, Philip the Sibanda and Report Mphoko. ZANLA: Tongogara, Tungamirai, and Mark Dube. Dabengwa and Ushewekunze represented the political leadership.
With this scenario, when then did I join ZANU? When I left London I went to Maputo via Moscow. The Russians would not have hosted me if I was not ZAPU and ZPRA.
On CIO, I was transferred from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare Department of Employment and Employment Development to Branch 2 of CIO which is the Diplomatic Division in the Organisation in September 1987 and posted to Maputo.
Former Dabengwa's operatives in National Security and Order (NSO) were the ones in Brach 1 that was direct dealing with the internal situation in the country. Not me.
If you are in Zimbabwe, I am prepared to meet you for an in depth account of the struggle. Dont listen to some of these stories. There are a creation of former Rhedesian agents who are still opetational.
Remember that the armed struggle was fought under strict secrecy to protect lives.
Source - VP Mphoko
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