News / National
Dabengwa sets Mphoko's war record straight
06 Apr 2016 at 01:41hrs | Views
VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko did not abandon the liberation struggle to be with his wife, as claimed by the embattled War Veterans Association chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa, Zipra's former intelligence chief Dumiso Dabengwa said yesterday.
Mphoko, according to Dabengwa, remained in Mozambique towards the end of the war for Zimbabwe's independence in the late 1970s on assignment in his brief as the chief of logistics - specifically to receive weapons and secure their safe passage to Zipra fighters.
The Zapu president made the remarks during an address to commemorate the death of former Zipra commander Lookout Masuku at an event organised by Ibhetshu lika Zulu in Bulawayo.
"From my recollection, and from the report we were given by (the late Zipra commander Alfred Nikita) Mangena on his return (from Mozambique), he said he left one man [VP Mphoko] because there were weapons expected from East Germany. Since the weapons had been given to Zipa, and that man being in charge of logistics, he would receive our portion of weapons," said Dabengwa.
The former Home Affairs Minister spoke about Mphoko after he was asked by a member of the audience to clarify why one person remained in Mozambique after the collapse of the Zimbabwe People's Army (ZIPA) and the rest of the Zipra cadres returned to Zambia.
He added: "There was a man that worked on reconnaissance and after conducting reconnaissance entered through Gonakudzingwa, entered through Malipati after crossing the Mozambique border. If you cross the Mozambican border, you get to Malipati, there were our people there, and he went that far.
"Those weapons needed to be transported into the country so that those guerrillas who entered through Botswana or Zambia travelled light and get the weapons inland. That's the only man I know was left with that job."
Mutsvangwa, whose leadership of the former freedom fighters has been called into question after his removal as War Veterans Minister by President Robert Mugabe last month, claimed that Mphoko deserted his comrades in Mozambique at the height of the liberation struggle to enjoy life with his then wife-to-be, Laurinda.
The couple wed in 1977, with former Umkhonto WeSizwe guerilla and current South African President Jacob Zuma as best man.
Retired Brigadier-General Abel Mazinyane, a former member of the Zipra High Command, was the first to hit back at Mutsvangwa, who fought on the side of Zanla.
Mazinyane said Mutsvangwa would do well to limit himself to Zanla matters, adding: "I know there're some who wish they were knowledgeable on Zipra issues, unfortunately they're not. There's 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."
The Zanu-PF secretary for finance Obert Mpofu also castigated Mutsvangwa for trying to undermine VP Mphoko's liberation war credentials, saying the party would not tolerate mischievous elements bent on denigrating the leadership.
VP Mphoko also weighed in last week, trashing Mutsvangwa's claims and calling him a mad man.
"Someone sees the sun rising from the east and he says it's the west. Lolo luhlanya (that's a mad person). Please take him to Ingutsheni Hospital," said Mphoko to thunderous applause while addressing a meeting at the Large City Hall in Bulawayo last Friday.
"If you talk about my wife, you irritate me because that's the person I love, that's my best friend. All my 16 years in the armed struggle, God knows I never left the struggle.
"I was loyal to the struggle and loyal to Zipra. I never sold out. I'm a son of a hero and my grandfather wayeliqhawe likaMzilikazi. I've never been a sell-out and will never be."
Mphoko said he joined the liberation struggle at a tender age and had committed himself to its cause to this day.
Speaking at the same event, Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo, the Zanu-PF deputy secretary for Women's League who is also the Bulawayo Provincial Minister of State, blasted Mutsvangwa for trying to denigrate Mphoko by poking his nose into Zipra issues.
She said the war veterans chairman was not a Zipra cadre and could not talk about Zipra activities, which he has no knowledge about.
Mphoko, according to Dabengwa, remained in Mozambique towards the end of the war for Zimbabwe's independence in the late 1970s on assignment in his brief as the chief of logistics - specifically to receive weapons and secure their safe passage to Zipra fighters.
The Zapu president made the remarks during an address to commemorate the death of former Zipra commander Lookout Masuku at an event organised by Ibhetshu lika Zulu in Bulawayo.
"From my recollection, and from the report we were given by (the late Zipra commander Alfred Nikita) Mangena on his return (from Mozambique), he said he left one man [VP Mphoko] because there were weapons expected from East Germany. Since the weapons had been given to Zipa, and that man being in charge of logistics, he would receive our portion of weapons," said Dabengwa.
The former Home Affairs Minister spoke about Mphoko after he was asked by a member of the audience to clarify why one person remained in Mozambique after the collapse of the Zimbabwe People's Army (ZIPA) and the rest of the Zipra cadres returned to Zambia.
He added: "There was a man that worked on reconnaissance and after conducting reconnaissance entered through Gonakudzingwa, entered through Malipati after crossing the Mozambique border. If you cross the Mozambican border, you get to Malipati, there were our people there, and he went that far.
"Those weapons needed to be transported into the country so that those guerrillas who entered through Botswana or Zambia travelled light and get the weapons inland. That's the only man I know was left with that job."
Mutsvangwa, whose leadership of the former freedom fighters has been called into question after his removal as War Veterans Minister by President Robert Mugabe last month, claimed that Mphoko deserted his comrades in Mozambique at the height of the liberation struggle to enjoy life with his then wife-to-be, Laurinda.
The couple wed in 1977, with former Umkhonto WeSizwe guerilla and current South African President Jacob Zuma as best man.
Retired Brigadier-General Abel Mazinyane, a former member of the Zipra High Command, was the first to hit back at Mutsvangwa, who fought on the side of Zanla.
Mazinyane said Mutsvangwa would do well to limit himself to Zanla matters, adding: "I know there're some who wish they were knowledgeable on Zipra issues, unfortunately they're not. There's 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."
The Zanu-PF secretary for finance Obert Mpofu also castigated Mutsvangwa for trying to undermine VP Mphoko's liberation war credentials, saying the party would not tolerate mischievous elements bent on denigrating the leadership.
VP Mphoko also weighed in last week, trashing Mutsvangwa's claims and calling him a mad man.
"Someone sees the sun rising from the east and he says it's the west. Lolo luhlanya (that's a mad person). Please take him to Ingutsheni Hospital," said Mphoko to thunderous applause while addressing a meeting at the Large City Hall in Bulawayo last Friday.
"If you talk about my wife, you irritate me because that's the person I love, that's my best friend. All my 16 years in the armed struggle, God knows I never left the struggle.
"I was loyal to the struggle and loyal to Zipra. I never sold out. I'm a son of a hero and my grandfather wayeliqhawe likaMzilikazi. I've never been a sell-out and will never be."
Mphoko said he joined the liberation struggle at a tender age and had committed himself to its cause to this day.
Speaking at the same event, Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo, the Zanu-PF deputy secretary for Women's League who is also the Bulawayo Provincial Minister of State, blasted Mutsvangwa for trying to denigrate Mphoko by poking his nose into Zipra issues.
She said the war veterans chairman was not a Zipra cadre and could not talk about Zipra activities, which he has no knowledge about.
Source - chronicle
