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Mphoko was always with us, says ex-Zipra General
20 Mar 2016 at 09:31hrs | Views
RETIRED Brigadier-General Abel Mazinyane was the last Zipra Chief of Intelligence whose other duties were to track and apprehend deserters. He does not recall Mphoko being listed as a deserter. He recalls VP Mphoko being appointed as Zapu representative in Maputo, Mozambique when Zipra forces withdrew from Mozambique to operate from Zambia. Below is his opinion piece.
When Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu) took a decision to wage an armed resistance against the Rhodesian settler regime it started by sending volunteers for military training and Comrade Mphoko was one of them. After some sporadic sabotage incursions into Rhodesia, Zapu decided to formalise the command structure under the Department of Special Affairs, Comrade Mphoko was part of the command. In this command Mphoko's superiors were Cdes Ackim Ndlovu and Robson Manyika.
After James Chikerema left Zapu to form Frolizi those who remained in Zapu as part of rejuvenating the armed struggle restructured the High Command and founded Zipra. When the Zipra High Command was appointed, Mphoko was the only surviving member of the old High Command and chief of logistics. His seniors in the command were Lookout Masuku and Alfred Nikita (Mangena), Mphoko never had a deputy when he was Zipra Chief of Logistics, never.
Mphoko was part of the Zimbabwe People's Army (Zipa) High Command in 1976 as Chief of Logistics deputised by a Zanla comrade as was the procedure in Zipa.
When Zipa developed problems and difficulties, a commission was set up late in 1976 to try and save it. The members of the commission were Simon Muzenda, Dzingai Mutumbuka, General Mujuru (Zanu), TG Silundika, Mphoko, Tapson Sibanda (Gordon Munyanyi ) (Zapu). The commission visited all Zipra and Zanla camps in Tanzania and Zambia. All those who were already cadres of the above former two armies must be aware of the commission. During his involvement with the commission Mphoko was based in Maputo as a Zapu representative in Mozambique. After the findings of the commission it was clear that the revival of Zipa would be difficult. Mphoko arranged a meeting between the Zipra High Command and the Mozambican government. This was end of 1976. I was part of the Zipra delegation to Maputo. I had been appointed to the High Command as Deputy Chief of the Military Intelligence, deputising Tapson Sibanda (Gordon Munyanyi).
Later on, Mphoko was responsible for repatriating some Zipra forces back to Zambia. I and Matswaha (Normal) were tasked at different times to meet them at Chadiza Border Post in Katete, Zambia. Katete borders with Tete Province in Mozambique
Mid 1979, I was attending a course at a military academy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. A group of Zipra and Zanla comrades had completed their training and were flying back to Africa. This group had been training near the border with Italy. The group was to be transported in a chartered plane. The flight route was originally to be Belgrade-Lusaka-Maputo. This has had been announced to all. The Zanla comrades somehow convinced the Yugoslav authorities that it was not safe for them to fly the suggested route. The authorities changed it to Belgrade- Maputo-Lusaka. The Zipra comrades objected to the change of the flight route. The disagreements of the two groups threatened to deteriorate to something nasty as the two groups travelled by bus to Belgrade for the flight. The authorities at the academy where I was (with AVM Abu Basutu, Charles Ndlovu and other Zipras) woke me up at midnight to go to the airport. I was not comfortable to go alone so I woke up my colleagues to go with me. I was the senior member of Zipra in that country. On arrival at the airport I found the two groups assembled separately.
The atmosphere was tense. Some of the Zipras that were in the group were Matoyoyo now — Ndlovu, Major and others.
The authorities asked me to persuade the Zipras to board the plane. It was when I was told what had transpired. After my assessment of the situation I took a painful decision. I ordered the Zipra comrades to board the plane and fly to Lusaka via Maputo. The only consolation I gave was that I was going to ask the Yugoslav authorities to contact the Zapu representatives in Maputo to meet them at the airport in Maputo. That representative was Mphoko.
The authorities could not facilitate that I speak with Mphoko because they said, they could only do it through their Minister of Foreign Affairs. I was putting my head on the block and the clock was ticking. Thank God Mphoko met the comrades at Maputo Airport and even accommodated some of them at his residence before they continued their flight to Lusaka, Zambia.
From 1976 to 1979 Mphoko was a Zapu delegate in several international conferences including Lancaster. Mphoko was even shortlisted for taking over the Zipra command after the death of Mangena.
I was the last Zipra Chief of Intelligence and one of my duties was to track Zipra deserters. 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 is Mphoko and Ambrose Mutinhiri. I know there are others who wish were knowledgeable on Zipra issues, unfortunately they are not. Maybe they are talking about another Mphoko. Those who decide to say something about Zipra should not talk or ask those who were in it.
Command of the Queen's language alone does not make one an authority on issues of the armed struggle. Towards the end of the liberation war, Mphoko's position made it difficult for him to interact with an individual soldier. It's not surprising that some former Zipra soldiers do not know him. The assessment of the liberation struggle by a comrade who was in a section differs from that of a member of the High Command. A soldier fought to win a fire fight, a commander planned to win a battle and a member of the High Command strategised to win a war.
Some people were too junior to comprehend the deployment of comrades of Mphoko's rank. It will be good for people to confine themselves to what they know well, as the armed struggle, especially the military was restricted a need to know only. There is no harm for those who were juniors during the war but senior today to consult those who are junior today but were senior during the war on issues that are related to war of liberation. Speculation should be avoided.
When Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu) took a decision to wage an armed resistance against the Rhodesian settler regime it started by sending volunteers for military training and Comrade Mphoko was one of them. After some sporadic sabotage incursions into Rhodesia, Zapu decided to formalise the command structure under the Department of Special Affairs, Comrade Mphoko was part of the command. In this command Mphoko's superiors were Cdes Ackim Ndlovu and Robson Manyika.
After James Chikerema left Zapu to form Frolizi those who remained in Zapu as part of rejuvenating the armed struggle restructured the High Command and founded Zipra. When the Zipra High Command was appointed, Mphoko was the only surviving member of the old High Command and chief of logistics. His seniors in the command were Lookout Masuku and Alfred Nikita (Mangena), Mphoko never had a deputy when he was Zipra Chief of Logistics, never.
Mphoko was part of the Zimbabwe People's Army (Zipa) High Command in 1976 as Chief of Logistics deputised by a Zanla comrade as was the procedure in Zipa.
When Zipa developed problems and difficulties, a commission was set up late in 1976 to try and save it. The members of the commission were Simon Muzenda, Dzingai Mutumbuka, General Mujuru (Zanu), TG Silundika, Mphoko, Tapson Sibanda (Gordon Munyanyi ) (Zapu). The commission visited all Zipra and Zanla camps in Tanzania and Zambia. All those who were already cadres of the above former two armies must be aware of the commission. During his involvement with the commission Mphoko was based in Maputo as a Zapu representative in Mozambique. After the findings of the commission it was clear that the revival of Zipa would be difficult. Mphoko arranged a meeting between the Zipra High Command and the Mozambican government. This was end of 1976. I was part of the Zipra delegation to Maputo. I had been appointed to the High Command as Deputy Chief of the Military Intelligence, deputising Tapson Sibanda (Gordon Munyanyi).
Later on, Mphoko was responsible for repatriating some Zipra forces back to Zambia. I and Matswaha (Normal) were tasked at different times to meet them at Chadiza Border Post in Katete, Zambia. Katete borders with Tete Province in Mozambique
Mid 1979, I was attending a course at a military academy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. A group of Zipra and Zanla comrades had completed their training and were flying back to Africa. This group had been training near the border with Italy. The group was to be transported in a chartered plane. The flight route was originally to be Belgrade-Lusaka-Maputo. This has had been announced to all. The Zanla comrades somehow convinced the Yugoslav authorities that it was not safe for them to fly the suggested route. The authorities changed it to Belgrade- Maputo-Lusaka. The Zipra comrades objected to the change of the flight route. The disagreements of the two groups threatened to deteriorate to something nasty as the two groups travelled by bus to Belgrade for the flight. The authorities at the academy where I was (with AVM Abu Basutu, Charles Ndlovu and other Zipras) woke me up at midnight to go to the airport. I was not comfortable to go alone so I woke up my colleagues to go with me. I was the senior member of Zipra in that country. On arrival at the airport I found the two groups assembled separately.
The authorities asked me to persuade the Zipras to board the plane. It was when I was told what had transpired. After my assessment of the situation I took a painful decision. I ordered the Zipra comrades to board the plane and fly to Lusaka via Maputo. The only consolation I gave was that I was going to ask the Yugoslav authorities to contact the Zapu representatives in Maputo to meet them at the airport in Maputo. That representative was Mphoko.
The authorities could not facilitate that I speak with Mphoko because they said, they could only do it through their Minister of Foreign Affairs. I was putting my head on the block and the clock was ticking. Thank God Mphoko met the comrades at Maputo Airport and even accommodated some of them at his residence before they continued their flight to Lusaka, Zambia.
From 1976 to 1979 Mphoko was a Zapu delegate in several international conferences including Lancaster. Mphoko was even shortlisted for taking over the Zipra command after the death of Mangena.
I was the last Zipra Chief of Intelligence and one of my duties was to track Zipra deserters. 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 is Mphoko and Ambrose Mutinhiri. I know there are others who wish were knowledgeable on Zipra issues, unfortunately they are not. Maybe they are talking about another Mphoko. Those who decide to say something about Zipra should not talk or ask those who were in it.
Command of the Queen's language alone does not make one an authority on issues of the armed struggle. Towards the end of the liberation war, Mphoko's position made it difficult for him to interact with an individual soldier. It's not surprising that some former Zipra soldiers do not know him. The assessment of the liberation struggle by a comrade who was in a section differs from that of a member of the High Command. A soldier fought to win a fire fight, a commander planned to win a battle and a member of the High Command strategised to win a war.
Some people were too junior to comprehend the deployment of comrades of Mphoko's rank. It will be good for people to confine themselves to what they know well, as the armed struggle, especially the military was restricted a need to know only. There is no harm for those who were juniors during the war but senior today to consult those who are junior today but were senior during the war on issues that are related to war of liberation. Speculation should be avoided.
Source - sundaynews
