EULOGY TO REVOLUTIONARY HEROES
The vision and courage of those who preceded me helped to shape my own vision and courage. The rebel in them combined with and refined the rebel in me and gave it revolutionary flavour and purpose. Were it not for them, I doubt that the rebel in me could have found expression through revolutionary armed struggle.
I looked into the eyes of Cuthbert as he lay on the hospital bed. The courage in his eyes and the wisdom in his words were there for me to see and hear, emulate and embrace. How could I miss such golden opportunity? Not pain, not torture, not even the promise of freedom and fortune, could shake the foundations of his revolutionary resolve to sacrifice, if need be, his life for that which he held so dear. I was not present when he was dragged to the gallows, a sacrificial lamb for the armed struggle; but I can imagine the torments of his black guards, eager to appease the devilish ego of their white masters, taunting him to walk on his remaining leg. Unable to do so unsupported, I can further imagine them dragging him; his naked belly scrubbing the hard ground, in order to inflict maximum pain to his body and cause him humiliation. Unable to extract a tear from his tortured soul and bruised body, I can imagine the frustration of his gleeful and bloodthirsty tormentors, looking for signs of pain and fear from the brutalised body and tortured but unyielding soul that lay before them, before they could pounce for the final kill. His only tears were the blood that freely oozed down his scarred face and ruptured body and that nourished his resolve for freedom. His pain was hidden behind the fearless mask of courage that his face wore. Yes, I can imagine him standing tall and supremely proud as the noose around his neck became his balancing second leg.
Death was our constant companion; too constant to bring grief and mourning, but most certain to forge oneness of purpose and to be a cause for celebration. Indeed, the death of a comrade became a cause for celebration. It was not celebration for the loss of the flesh, but for the courage and purity of the spirit that in our eyes had turned every dead comrade into a martyr for our revolutionary struggle. We saw so many deaths and shed so many tears. We had no more tears to shed. Our bullets became our only tears.
We all worked on the basic premise that we would not live to see a free and independent Zimbabwe. Equally too, we were of the unshakeable conviction that those who came after us would accomplish the task we had begun and enjoy the fruits of our labour. This became the foundation of our doctrine of a protracted armed struggle. We defined our fight as a just struggle in which there could be but one victor, the People as led by us.
Lamentably, history remains unkind to the memory and achievements of our revolutionary heroes and their leadership. This is so because the tools to interpret and propagate the history of our struggle largely remain in the hands of those whom we vanquished.
Amongst our living heroes, Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe stands a cut above the rest. He was the visionary of our struggle whose words became prophetic. His vision, wisdom and courage moulded him into a dynamic leader for the armed struggle and a potent force against the enemy. With seven academic degrees to his credit, many of which were obtained in incarceration, none can dare challenge his intellectual credentials.
Comrade Mugabe’s background as a teacher must have contributed immensely to the enhancement of both his language construction skills and powerful oratory. He is a consensus builder who likes to involve the different echelons of his Party in the formulation of policy. His political acumen and shrewd negotiating skills enable him to influence the final outcome of policies. During the armed struggle, Comrade Mugabe demonstrated total loyalty to the cause for freedom and independence. His strict adherence to principles endears him to many and invites loathing from a few others. Indeed, those who love him do so with a passion and those who hate him equally do so with a passion.
Because of his high academic qualifications and natural intellect, Comrade Mugabe never feels intellectually challenged or inferior. Contrary to falsehoods peddled by West European countries and the United States of America, knowing full well they are false, I dare add, Comrade Mugabe does not assassinate opponents physically; he outshines and out manoeuvres them, and liquidates them intellectually.
Before I joined the struggle I had heard a lot about Comrade Mugabe, but I had never met him. During the struggle I had the fortune and pleasure to meet the inspirational guru and work with him. I got to know him, to like him, and to love him. The revolutionary armed struggle turned us into blood brothers.
Every man (or woman) has their own weaknesses. Comrade Mugabe is no exception. ‘Let him without sin cast the first stone.’ Having said this, the grand sacrifices and contributions Comrade Mugabe made for Zimbabwe deserve every Zimbabwean’s forgiveness for any minor indiscretions attributable to him.
I believe I can lay claim to knowing Comrade Mugabe exceedingly well. If one was to pose the question, ‘which are the greatest weaknesses of Mugabe?’ my first simple and honest answer would be, ‘the teacher in him.’ He sees the weaknesses in others not as reason for retribution, but as the teacher’s challenge and responsibility to educate, re-direct and bring into conformity. In his eyes, failure to achieve this is reflective of a disconnection between a professor and his student. He thus exhibits patience and tolerance to the under performer, and goes the extra mile to rehabilitate them.
My second equally simple and honest answer would be, ‘his love for his people.’ By ‘his people’ I am alluding mainly to the very poor in society, especially the rural folk. Some economists have castigated his policies aimed at ameliorating the suffering of the poor as being ruinous. To the contrary, any failure to bring the poor into the mainstream of production can be attributed to some unscrupulous officials who undermine his good intentions and waylay that which is intended for the very poor to satiate their own greed.
Comrade Mugabe never forgets those who he has been through difficulties with. He always tries to prop them up when they fall, even at the risk of being brought down by them.
Arguably, Comrade Mugabe’s perceived weaknesses could well be his greatest strengths.
‘What is Mugabe’s greatest strength?’ Again I have a simple and honest answer to this question – ‘his strict adherence to principles.’ Even when everyone else deserts him, Comrade Mugabe will sacrifice everything, including his reputation, to uphold his principles. This explains why, despite being vilified by the British, Americans and other European countries (and some black surrogates too!), he remains steadfast that LAND must be fairly redistributed to correct the colonial injustices that deprived the majority black population of land in favor of a tiny white population. LAND was the main grievance for launching an armed struggle against British colonists and their extension, the Smith regime; and its equitable redistribution remains sacrosanct.
Comrade Mugabe’s fortitude and presence of mind defies his age. Those who claim to know him well are constantly amazed to discover that his depth of character is deeper than they ever imagined. Comrade Mugabe seems to be in a state of perpetual regeneration. He shall remain, forever, an enigma.
True indeed, Comrade Mugabe has been demonised for upholding his sacred principles. Those who have stood by him have been labeled Mugabe’s cronies. As for me, to be labeled a crony of Mugabe is a badge of honor that I wear with pride.
It is most unfortunate that I never got the opportunity to get to know first hand Comrade Herbert Wilshire Chitepo. I am not the best qualified to comment on his character. However, such was the pivotal leadership role Comrade Chitepo played in advancing our struggle that, through our orientation classes and first hand accounts of those who had the privilege of working with him, I got to know the man’s character, appreciate his immense contribution to the advancement of our struggle, and acknowledge his selfless spirit.
It is no mean achievement for one to climb the success ladder to become a lawyer of repute and the first black advocate in one’s country. Neither is it a mean sacrifice for such an accomplished lawyer and advocate to forsake such glory to heed the calling of his Party (ZANU) to organise and lead a burgeoning guerrilla force against the formidable and well-equipped professional army that the Rhodesian forces represented. In heeding the call, Comrade Herbert Wilshire Chitepo was undaunted by the enormity of the challenge that carried enormous personal risk and, as fate would have it, eventually led to his death.
It would be remiss of me not to single out for special mention two commanders who left behind their indelible footprints in the history of our struggle for freedom and independence. These are none other than Comrades Josiah Magama Tongogara and Rex Nhongo.
Comrade Tongogara was a towering figure of our struggle, both physically and intellectually. I first met him at Chimoio ZANLA Headquarters in 1976 after his release from Zambian prisons alongside others of our leaders. The youthful ZIPA leadership, who had inspired us to fight harder in order to put pressure on the Zambian government to release our imprisoned leadership, changed their tune when it became certain that their release was imminent. Out of the blue they began casting aspersions against that leadership, accusing it of capitulation while incarcerated. Even Comrade Mugabe, whom we had been persuaded to accept as the successor to Ndabaningi Sithole, the first President of ZANU who had reneged on the struggle, was not spared the wrath of the ZIPA leadership.
When Comrade Tongogara first addressed us, seated beneath the trees, we were not sure who to believe – this tall charismatic commander we hardly knew, or the ZIPA (ZANLA) leadership which was the only one we had known, but who were making a u-turn on the orientation they had given us in the past. At first there was resistance in responding to Comrade Tongogara’s slogans praising comrade Mugabe, but if you felt his penetrating gaze on you, you would reluctantly lift your clenched right fist and respond. If there is one person who single handedly and assiduously worked for President Mugabe to be known, understood and accepted by the comrades during those early days, that man is Comrade Tongogara.
The most striking feature of Comrade Tongogara was his intellect. Amongst all the comrades it was generally accepted that Comrade Tongogara was a strategist, quick witted, and could handle any situation. He inspired so much confidence amongst comrades, could identify and develop talent and was fair, with no tribal leanings. His sense of humour was natural and effortless. Comrade Tongogara was a gifted orator who was economical with his words when addressing rallies. He always left a lasting impression on his audience. He exhibited rare courage and unquestionable commitment to the cause for freedom.
Posthumously, Comrade Tongogara needs to be awarded honorary degrees and be decorated with the highest honours the nation can give.
Comrade Rex Nhongo complemented Comrade Tongogara very well as his deputy and Chief of Operations. The most outstanding characteristic of Comrade Nhongo was his stammer.
When the ZIPA leadership, in which he was the most senior, sought to disown President Mugabe and the leaders who were being released from Zambian prisons, Comrade Rex Nhongo took an independent and opposing view. Independence of opinion was the hallmark of his life.
Comrade Nhongo was a hands-on commander who led from the front. He could analyse the war situation well and inspired his subordinates by his acts of bravery. He mixed freely and easily with all comrades, irrespective of rank or status.
The struggle for the liberation of Zimbabwe is replete with revolutionary heroism. Many comrades, fighters and refugees alike, paid the supreme sacrifice in the fight for freedom and independence. The mass graves in Mozambique and Zambia bear testimony to this. In Botswana, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and many other countries in Africa, and even as far afield as Russia, China, Romania, Yugoslavia, Cuba and many other places, the remains of our fallen comrades are also eternally interred.
Innocent civilians in countries that provided sanctuary to our fighters and refugees, especially in Mozambique, Zambia and Botswana, often found themselves targets of the vengeful colonial war machine spearheaded by the Rhodesian forces. The wanton acts of aggression against these states emboldened and galvanised their resolve to see the destruction of the Rhodesian regime and the birth of an independent and democratic state of Zimbabwe.
In Zimbabwe itself, the revolutionary winds of change buffeting the beleaguered settler regime of Ian Smith, turned this regime into a ruthless monster that brutalised and devoured its own citizens and used all means possible, including those proscribed by international conventions, to halt and reverse the gains of the liberation struggle and to stem the tide of its growing popular support at home and abroad.
The enemy poisoned water wells in areas where freedom fighters were known to frequent, aimed at massacring them and the masses that gave them support. Foodstuffs and items of clothing were also laced with poison. Many civilians lost their lives in support of the just struggle. These ruthless tactics of annihilation and subjugation never succeeded in swaying the resolve of our masses from supporting the armed struggle.
Those of our comrades who were captured by the regime’s forces were subjected to the most brutal treatment and torture that left many of them dead or maimed for life. Most of those killed had their bodies dissolved in acid or thrown into disused mine shafts.
We are who we are today because of the supreme sacrifice of those comrades who took up arms against the racist colonial regime that we fought and vanquished. Many of our comrades perished in that struggle and many more after the attainment of independence. But a sizeable proportion of the comrades are living up to this day.
We are who we are today because of the immense courage and spirit of selfless sacrifice of our masses who refused to submit to the whims and designs of the colonists who were ruthless to the extreme and better equipped than the freedom fighters, but morally bankrupt. Our masses preferred death to servitude.
Our freedom and independence is founded on a rock solid foundation of principles, courage, and selfless sacrifice and sealed by the blood of our fallen heroes. As a nation, let us bury whatever differences divide us and pay homage to our revolutionary heroes. While it is an undeniable reality that the remains of many of our heroes shall forever remain interred in shrines in countries that gave us sanctuary during the struggle, there are some of our commanders whose remains have not been given a befitting reburial at our shrines. These include comrades Tinzwei Goronga, our provincial commander and member of the High Command, Comrade Ziso, a member of the High Command, Comrade Jani, a member of General Staff who was killed at the same time and same place with Comrade Goronga and, without doubt, many others known to our fighters who survived the struggle. These are our deserving national heroes. Let their remains be brought home and accorded decent reburial. At the very least, let them be declared national heroes so that their families can be assisted alongside those of other national heroes lying at our National Heroes’ Acre. If this is not done during the lifetime of those who fought side by side with them, most certainly they will be forgotten forever.
Let us pause again to salute all our revolutionary heroes.
Thanks to all those who selflessly were willing to sacrifice their lives, the battle for freedom and independence was won. However, success in the war against capitalist exploitation remains an intractable and illusory dream. Capitalist mutation has taken place through recruitment from our ranks of ‘daytime socialists’ who turn out to be ‘night time capitalists’. As the ranks of committed revolutionary cadres dwindle through natural attrition, those of the pseudo socialists experience a multiplier effect.
When we first celebrated our independence, the capitalists celebrated with us too, but for different reasons. Throughout our struggle, the capitalists were busy recruiting, training and deploying their surrogates amongst us. Many of these grew up and studied in capitalist countries, emulated the capitalist culture, and had an unquenchable appetite for wealth. All they needed to do was to become acceptable to ZANU by claiming membership of the party, chant ZANU slogans the loudest, sing ZANU songs and preach the socialist gospel, even without being socialists. Their high academic qualifications and professed allegiance to ZANU would stand them in good stead if they vied for government or party leadership positions. The comrades who participated in the armed struggle, most with a low level of education, were to be denied any meaningful positions and completely cut off from expressing their anguish and views to President Mugabe. The communication skills they had acquired and sharpened during the struggle and used most effectively to win the party a resounding victory in 1980 were completely ignored. The pseudo socialists are conspicuous by their dutiful attendance at presidential rallies and strategic positioning to catch the president’s eye, in a manner suggestive that they are the true loyalists to the party and its president.
I lack the words to succinctly express the debt of gratitude that the nation owes to our dead and living heroes who took up arms to liberate our country. How can we be blind to the selfless sacrifices of our masses that, without arms, stood against the might of a vicious colonial regime to lend support to their children waging a just struggle? Now that we are independent, can we forget the resolute support that Samora Machel and the Mozambican people, Julius Nyerere and the Tanzanians, Mengishtu Haile Mariam and the Ethiopian people, Kenneth Kaunda and the Zambian people, Sir Seretse Khama and the Botswanans, and many others, gave in order for Zimbabwe to be free and independent today?
Let me end my eulogy with a poem for our departed revolutionary heroes. (Adapted from a poem I wrote on the occasion of the passing on of Comrade Agnew Kambeu, aka General Amoth Chimombe):
In loving memory of our departed revolutionary heroes
Death is a cruel and silent stalker. It hides in dark secret corners and pounces on unsuspecting victims.
Death knows no respect. If it did, Comrade Joshua Nkomo, Comrade Simon Muzenda,* Comrade Tongogara, Comrade Herbert Chitepo and all other revolutionary heroes could be spared its agonising visits.
Death shows no mercy. It ignores the anguishes and passionate pleas of friends and relatives, and never leaves behind those it visits.
Death sows pain in the fields of happiness. It douses the flames of laughter with showers of tears.
Death inflicts deep and painful wounds. Its wounds heal with time, but the scars they leave behind last forever.
Death is certain. Just as every coin has a flipside, the flipside of life is death.
Death is a lone journey. Coming to life also is a lone adventure.
Goodbye our departed revolutionary heroes.
May you in death discover a new life? May that life forever conquer death?
* Comrade Simon Vengai Muzenda was Vice-President of ZANU (PF) and Vice-President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. He died on 24 September 2003 and was declared a national hero.