The passing of Charles Sotsha Ngwenya, widely known as J.D (John Dube), the Chief of Operations for the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZPRA), on February 21, 1977, in Lagos, Nigeria, stands as one of the most profound tragedies of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
J.D. succumbed to complications following surgery for stomach ulcers during an official visit to Nigeria. His death occurred less than a month after the assassination of Comrade J.Z. Moyo, a towering figure of the southern African nationalist movement, by the Rhodesian regime on January 22, 1977.
Comrade J.D., a legendary figure in the fight for liberation, was celebrated for his exceptional skills on the battlefield and his hands-on approach to confronting enemy forces. He played a central role in leading the combined ZAPU-ANC forces during the crucial Wankie battles of 1967 and was persistently sought after by the Rhodesian authorities.
In his graveside tribute, then ZAPU Secretary-General Comrade Joseph Msika described J.D. as a young man who had “made the fullest possible contributions to the liberation of Zimbabwe” and whose loss would be “difficult to replace.” He lauded J.D.’s vital role in the liberation struggle, emphasizing that his efforts stood as an enduring source of inspiration and a challenge to all Zimbabweans devoted to achieving independence.
Msika acknowledged J.D.’s death as “another heavy blow” to the liberation movement, following “the irreparable loss of the great stalwart of the revolutionary struggle, Jason Moyo.” He urged the fighters to embrace the challenge of the struggle and persevere until victory, asserting that they should not be deterred by misfortune, which appeared intent on delivering a decisive blow to the movement.
J.D. was born in Zimnyama, Bulilimamangwe District, approximately 20 kilometres southwest of Plumtree Town near Zimbabwe’s border with Botswana. He became increasingly aware of the injustices of colonial racism while working in Bulawayo during the early 1960s, which motivated him to participate in initiatives aimed at improving the lives of black people.
In 1965, J.D. was among the first young Rhodesians to respond to ZAPU’s call for Africans to take up arms against colonial rulers in the fight for liberation. He underwent military training in Algeria before joining the ranks of ZPPA fighters committed to ending Ian Smith’s oppressive regime. HIS rise to leadership was therefore meteoric.
Among his many accomplishments, J.D. is best remembered as the commander of the renowned 1967 Wankie Battles, a joint operation by ZAPU and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) of the ANC. Notably, the campaign also featured the celebrated MK commander Chris Hani, whose influence on South African politics endures more than three decades after his assassination in 1993.
Following the Wankie Battles, J.D. and the ZPRA Command carried out a series of highly effective operations across Rhodesia. These efforts significantly weakened the Smith regime, ultimately compelling it to enter negotiations that led to independence and the conclusion of the war. Many mourners shared memories of J.D., describing him as a brilliant tactician and a courageous comrade who boldly challenged even his own comrades if the struggle was at stake. Msika remembered him as “a fearless comrade, straightforward in confrontation, swift in action, and insightful in discussion.”
While J.D’s death was a heavy blow, ZPRA used it as an inspiration to continue with the fight. Below, we reproduce Msika’s graveside speech in full:
“Your Excellencies, honourable guests, and friends, we therefore have, lying before us,.”
“To our brothers of the ANC of South Africa, we say: Here lies a comrade-in-arms of those comrades of Umkhonto We Sizwe he fought with in Zimbabwe. They are all heroes of the Wankie Battles of 1967 whose historical impact will never be forgotten by the people of Zimbabwe.”
“To my fellow Zimbabweans, in particular members of ZAPU, the Patriotic Front, and our fellow fighters, I would like to say the contributions of Comrade J.D. stand out as a challenge for us to follow. It is by following his example of dedication and contribution to the armed liberation struggle that we can assure ourselves of defeating the racist regime in Rhodesia. His burning desire was the defeat of the enemy. Our best compliment to his life will be our achievement of that victory in Zimbabwe.”
“On a personal note, the loss of Comrade J.D. was a personal tragedy. He was in my delegation on a mission to Nigeria. An illness of about 24 hours was too short for me to conceive of death, and yet there it was, an irreversible fact.”
“On behalf of our Party ZAPU and our leader Joshua Nkomo, who, for circumstances beyond his control, could not be with us physically, though with us in spirit, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to His Excellency President Kaunda, to the Party UNIP, and to the Government of the Republic of Zambia for all the contributions they have made to complete the work of this funeral.”
“Your Excellencies, honourable guests, and friends, in my opening remarks, I referred to a cloud of fate hanging over our movement. Be that as it may, let me say, in the exemplary spirit of J.D.’s courage and determination, we shall never allow the designs of fate or those of the enemy to deter us from our unflinching resolve to prosecute a successful armed struggle to liberate our motherland, Zimbabwe. We shall rely on our own strength to ensure our victory.”
“I would like to extend our profound gratitude also to the Head of State and Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for all the contributions towards the funeral of our comrade J.D., including transportation by special plane of the body to Lusaka, Zambia.”
“I would like to thank everyone else that has made contributions.”
“As a Party, we at once feel and share the grief of the loss of our comrade J.D. with his parents and closest relatives.”
“To you, Comrade Sotsha Ngwenya (J.D.), who we are laying to rest today, may I say: Greatness is not measured in rank but in deeds. In this sense, you are great. We pledge to you and to the other Zimbabwean heroes that have fallen before you that we shall continue the work in whose cause you have sacrificed your lives until the total liberation of Zimbabwe. May you lie in peace. We shall ever remember your deeds. Zimbabwe shall be free. The struggle continues.”
Published by the Zimbabwe Review Vol 6 March April 1977.
