By Report Phelekezela Mphoko
This article was first published by CITE in December 2021
The people of Zimbabwe were united under the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU). When ZAPU was banned, the Party Leadership decided that it would not form another political party again, because the Rhodesian Government would ban that party, confiscate its property, and have the leadership arrested. Instead, ZAPU. was placed under the People’s Caretaker Council (PCC).
Before ZAPU was banned, the party had undertaken a programme to raise an army to wage a military armed struggle as it had become very obvious that there was no other way to realise majority rule in Zimbabwe.
To achieve this, ZAPU sent its cadres to Ghana, Egypt, North Korea, and to the People’s Republic of China for military training. These were the first people in colonial Rhodesia to receive military training for the purpose of pursuing majority rule. Among them were well-known figures such as Dumiso Dabengwa, Solomon Mujuru and Jason ‘Ziyaphapha’ Moyo.
However, on 08 August 1963 the nationalist movement suffered a heavy blow when some members of the National Executive Committee of ZAPU led by Ndabaningi Sithole, who was the National Chairman with Robert Mugabe, Enos Nkala, Henry Hamadziripi, among others, broke away,, and formed the Zimbabwe African National Union, (ZANU). These leaders cited what they called the lack of a will to fight by ZAPU, and yet ZAPU had already embarked on a military training programme.
Consequently, both ZAPU and ZANU, established External wings separately in Zambia, to direct the armed struggle. These wings ZPRA and ZANLA – were to become the dominant forces in the majority black people’s struggles for self-rule in the country.
ZAPU belonged to the Six Authentic Liberation Movements that were recognised by the Organisation Of African Unity (OAU) including the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, FRELIMO of Mozambique, SWAPO of Namibia, MPLA of Angola, and PAIGC of Cape Verde. However, ZANU and other breakaway movements such as the PAC of South Africa were not recognised by the OAU, but were exclusively supported by President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania.
While ZAPU was still recovering from the Sithole-led breakaway, James Chikerema who was Vice-President of ZAPU and also leader of its external wing led another breakaway and formed the short-lived Front For The Liberation Of Zimbabwe (FROLIZ). Chikerema’s main scapegoat for the formation of FROLIZ was his objection to ZAPU’s collaboration with the African National Congress (ANC), then led by Oliver Tambo., Among other achievements, this fruitful collaboration led now famous joint combat operations in Wankie and Sipolilo, which raised the profile of the two nationalists movements as leaders of the struggle for African people’s freedom.
Curiously, Chikerema saw the collaboration as a tribal reunion of the Ndebele people with what he termed as their South African kith and kins. I was the Camp Commander at the Dan Nang Base where the Luthuli Detachment was training. Chikerema never set his foot on this base because of his attitude towards the ZAPU/ANC alliance. However, then ANC president, Oliver Tambowas a constant visitor to Dan Nang and also a great source of support and inspiration. Instead, Chikerema even designed a slogan, which read ‘‘WE CAN ALSO FIGHT’ as an arrogant show of his disdain for the collaboration of the movements. Meanwhile, ZANU latched onto the divisions and accused ZAPU of engaging what it called South African mercenaries in the war in Zimbabwe. It also pushed the narrative that Zimbabwe had a population of 4 million people, and therefore there was no need to use external fighters.
However in the long run, the formation of FROLIZ and it’s teaming up with UANC of Abel Muzorewa posed a very serious threat to both ZAPU and ZANU., For instance, at the Bengazi (Libya) Summit in 197…, moderate member States of the OAU demanded that the organisation rescind the recognition of ZAPU and ZANU and instead recognise Abel Muzorewa and James Chikerema. ZAPU and ZANU were accused of lack of progress. A positive outcome of this threat was that it prompted ZAPU and ZANU to form the Joint Military Command (JMC) in Mbeya Tanzania, with support from Zambia, Tanzania and other well-wishing states and actors. Fundamental principles were laid down to be followed as the parties had their Constitutions and their Mandate from their supporters. It was emphasised that this was a programme of unity, not a programme for one entity to swallow another. To guard against swallowing each other, it was agreed that if the Chairman was from one side, the side with the Deputy Chairman would provide the JMC Commander.
Accordingly, Herbert Chitepo became Chairman, and Nikita Mangena became Chief of Staff of the JMC. It was also agreed as a principle that if a head of a department were from ZPRA, his deputy should come from ZANLA and if the Head is from ZANLA, his deputy should come from ZPRA.
Finally the layout was:
-Herbert Chitepo; ZANU Chairman
-Jason Moyo; ZAPU Deputy Chairman
-Nikita Mangena; ZPRA Chief of Staff
– Josiah Tongogara; ZANLA Chief of Operations
-Sotsha Ngwenya (JD) ZPRA Deputy
-Robson Manyika; ZANLA Political Commissar
-Lookout Masuku ZPRA Deputy
-John Mataure ZANLA Chief of Personnel and Training
-Cephas Cele ZPRA Deputy
-Gordon Munyanyi; ZPRA Chief of Military Intelligence
-Webstar Gwauya ZANLA Deputy
-Phelekezela Mphoko ZPRA Chief of Logistics and Supplies
-William Ndangana ZANLA Deputy.
This principle was followed when the Zimbabwe People’s Army (ZIPA) was formed in September 1975, in Mozambique, with a lay out of;
-Solomon Mujuru; ZANLA Commander
-Sotsha Ngwenya(JD Dube ) ZPRA Deputy
-Nikita Mangena ZPRA Political Commissar
-Dzinashe Mashingura ZANLA Deputy
-Ambrose Mutinhiri ZPRA Chief of Personnel and Training
-Parker Chipowere ZANLA Deputy
-Gordon Munyanyi ZPRA Chief of Military Intelligence
-James Nyikadzino ZANLA Deputy
-Ella’s Hondo ZANLA Chief of Operations
-Jevan Maseko ZPRA Deputy
-Phelekezela Mphoko ZPRA Chief of Logistics and Supplies
-Edmond Kaguru ZANLA Deputy.
This is the same principle that was followed when the Patriotic Front of Zimbabwe was formed in 1976 in Mozambique. The emphasis was mainly on the co-leaders of the Patriotic Front, Dr. Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe. That they were to rotate the Chairmanship of the Patriotic Front meetings. If there were delegations for other meetings, equal members from both ZAPU and ZANU should attend. It is partly due to this arrangement that the Constitution of Zimbabwe states very clearly that ZAPU and ZANU liberated Zimbabwe. Comrades Joshua Nkomo brought ZAPU and led his supporters into the Unity and Robert Mugabe respectively brought ZANU and led his supporters into the Unity. The prevailing situation, where ZANU is portrayed as having been the more dominant party is a misnomer.
There is no one at the moment in Cabinet or Politburo who was present at the formation of the Joint Military Command in Mbeya, as those Revolutionary Principles were laid down. There is no one in Cabinet or Politburo who was present when ZIPA, the second Military Unity between ZPRA and ZANLA, was formed in 1975. And there is no one in Cabinet or Politburo who was present at the formation of the Patriotic Front in 1976.
It is a fact that ZANU did not unite with itself but with ZAPU. The 22 December 1987 Unity Accord between ZAPU and ZANU was signed for a different purpose related to post Independence killings. The Unity Between ZAPU and ZANU was achieved long back when the Patriotic Front was formed in 1976. All negotiations were done collectively as a United Patriotic Front of Zimbabwe. Since its formation the Patriotic Front of Zimbabwe, united the people of Zimbabwe. However, that Unity was destroyed when the co-leader Robert Mugabe, pulled out of the Unity sighting after he has been accused by people like Muzorewa, Matimba and others for giving the leadership of the people of Zimbabwe to the Ndebele.
However, his statement and position was unfortunately welcomed by President Samora Machel and Julius Nyerere. The meeting was attended by Presidents: Samora Machel (the host) Julius Nyerere, Kenneth Kaunda, Edwardo Dos Santos, and Queti Masire in Beira Mozambique. Mugabe informed them that he was going to campaign as ZANU and not as the Patriotic Front of Zimbabwe.
This was the first and last meeting of the Frontline Heads of States on Zimbabwe, after the Lancaster House Peace Talks and just before elections leading to Independence. This was also the first meeting to be attended by President Edwardo dos Santos of Angola after the death of Agostino Neto.
The Patriotic Front was represented by the co-leader Robert Mugabe, his lieutenants Simon Muzenda and Edgar Tekere, and Phelekezela Mphoko for ZAPU.
Those, living today who are in the leadership of the United Party of the Patriotic Front, have a duty to up hold the Revolutionary Principles adopted by those who have departed. That is the only honour they could be accorded with. At least to respect their principles. The current position prevailing suggests that their approach to the armed struggle and the Unity of the People of Zimbabwe, was wrong.
The delegation at the formation of the Patriotic Front in Maputo, in 1976:
ZAPU Delegation:
Jason Moyo ( Leader)
Joseph Msika
George Silundika
Dumiso Dabengwa
Phelekezela Mphoko
ZANU Delegation:
Robert Mugabe (Leader)
Simon Muzenda
Herbert Ushewekunze
Edgar Tekere
Kumbirai Kangai
Mozambique
Julie Mateus
Matangambela
