Opinion / Columnist
Excerpts from 1968 and 1978 Sipolilo, Kachuta battles
8 hrs ago | Views
In 1968 Comrades fought against Rhodesia Front soldiers in Sipolilo District. This was in Kachuta, Bvochora Area specifically Magama Village near Hunyani River. The battle was heavily fought between the Rhodesian Forces and ZIPRA.
soldiers ruthlessly attacked villagers accusing them of harbouring freedom fighters. Some villagers were actually shot dead. Among the villagers killed was Dhadheya Mutaiwa. Mutaiwa had ran away in the bush during gun battle little did he know that on his return from the bush, he would be spotted by the soldiers and shot dead. After being shot dead he was airlifted, tied on a rope, hanging. The soldiers wanted to instil fear in the villagers under the pretext that they had killed a freedom fighter. After the soldiers had achieved their sinister motive they returned Mutaiwa's body to the village. Sorrowfully the villagers buried their lost son who incidentally was a family man.
As a result of this war villagers were expeditiously displaced. Some went and took refuge at Sipolilo Camp.
In 1978 another extra ordinary thing happened again in Sipolilo District. This involved three villages of Gombarashama, Mandere and Katena.
Rhodesian Front solders spotted ZANLA Freedom fighters and they called for reinforcement in the form of the air force and ground force.
There was intense fighting between ZANLA freedom fighters and soldiers of Rhodesian Front. This involved intensive bombardments of 3 villages namely Gombarashama, Mandere and Katena. Lots of lives were lost which included comrades, defenceless civilians and as well as soldiers from Rhodesia Front. Among the dead was fearless freedom fighter Mcduff Mandebvu. Something mysterious and spiritual also happened. Among the dead was a breast feeding who was shot dead but the child on her back survived. This woman was shot in the bush few metres from the villages. The child spent 2 days and nights breast feeding from her dead mother. About 34 people were bombarded including defenceless civilians. People could not understand how the child survived for 2 days and nights in that area full of snakes, hyenas and either dangerous animals.
The child is now grown up by the name Shupikai Gombarashama, she is staying somewhere in Harare.
By Givestar Kamuzonde
soldiers ruthlessly attacked villagers accusing them of harbouring freedom fighters. Some villagers were actually shot dead. Among the villagers killed was Dhadheya Mutaiwa. Mutaiwa had ran away in the bush during gun battle little did he know that on his return from the bush, he would be spotted by the soldiers and shot dead. After being shot dead he was airlifted, tied on a rope, hanging. The soldiers wanted to instil fear in the villagers under the pretext that they had killed a freedom fighter. After the soldiers had achieved their sinister motive they returned Mutaiwa's body to the village. Sorrowfully the villagers buried their lost son who incidentally was a family man.
As a result of this war villagers were expeditiously displaced. Some went and took refuge at Sipolilo Camp.
In 1978 another extra ordinary thing happened again in Sipolilo District. This involved three villages of Gombarashama, Mandere and Katena.
Rhodesian Front solders spotted ZANLA Freedom fighters and they called for reinforcement in the form of the air force and ground force.
There was intense fighting between ZANLA freedom fighters and soldiers of Rhodesian Front. This involved intensive bombardments of 3 villages namely Gombarashama, Mandere and Katena. Lots of lives were lost which included comrades, defenceless civilians and as well as soldiers from Rhodesia Front. Among the dead was fearless freedom fighter Mcduff Mandebvu. Something mysterious and spiritual also happened. Among the dead was a breast feeding who was shot dead but the child on her back survived. This woman was shot in the bush few metres from the villages. The child spent 2 days and nights breast feeding from her dead mother. About 34 people were bombarded including defenceless civilians. People could not understand how the child survived for 2 days and nights in that area full of snakes, hyenas and either dangerous animals.
The child is now grown up by the name Shupikai Gombarashama, she is staying somewhere in Harare.
By Givestar Kamuzonde
Source - Givestar Kamuzonde
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