The Sunday News
RECENTLY appointed Vice-President Cde Phelekezela Mphoko has been described by his liberation war colleagues as an upright, humble, principled leader and a disciplined liberation fighter who played a critical role in the country’s fight for self-rule.
Describing Cde Mphoko as a dedicated nationalist and committed nation builder, former Zipra chief of intelligence, Retired Brigadier-General Abel Mazinyane said there could not have been a better candidate for the VP post than Cde Mphoko.
Cde Mphoko was together with Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa on 10 December, appointed Second and First Vice Presidents respectively by President Mugabe.
He replaced Cde John Nkomo, who died in January last year, while Cde Mnangagwa replaced Cde Joice Mujuru who was fired for ineptitude and abuse of office, among other crimes.
Rtd Brig-Gen Mazinyane’s description of Cde Mphoko as a suitable VP appointee, comes on the back of sentiments by some politicians who are questioning the VP’s ascendancy to the Presidium, accusing him of having a checkered liberation war curriculum vitae, which makes him unfit for the post.
Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa was recently quoted in the private media questioning and in the process downplaying Cde Mphoko’s role during the liberation war, describing him as “a sellout and a cheat”.
Rtd Brig-Gen Mazinyane who worked closely with VP Mphoko during the liberation struggle in Zambia and Mozambique from 1970 until independence bore testimony of the former diplomat’s decorated liberation war credentials.
“Cde Mphoko is a humble man, hardworking and principled leader and I know him from the days in the bush as a leader who was always keen on leading by example. His elevation to the post of Vice-President was done according to Zanu-PF and Zanu-PF is the party which won the 2013 elections. In my view, no one outside the party should disagree or question his appointment.
“If my memory serves me well, I concur with sentiments expressed by Cde Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu that Cde Mphoko was the most suitable candidate for the post. He spent 15 years in the struggle and a lot more years serving the country in different portfolios. What more can you ask from a man?
“After independence he was humble enough to work in the periphery of things and served as a diplomat. During his service as a diplomat and even during the war, he never flinched but remained committed in serving the country diligently.
“I know him as someone who is upright and allergic to corruption. His uprightness is sometimes overpowering. He is a straightforward man who does not deviate from his principles. He is such a humble and approachable character and can talk to any person at any level,” he said.
Rtd Brig-Gen Mazinyane said Cde Mphoko’s liberation war credentials could not be questioned as he was one of the people who played an influential role in the formation of the country’s first organised military command against the white minority government.
Cde Mphoko was in the thick of things in the formative stages of the armed struggle and was part of the first few cadres who trained in the Soviet Union together with Dumiso Dabengwa, Albert Nxele and Retired Brigadier Ambrose Mutinhiri, who were instrumental in the founding of Zipra, Zapu’s military wing.
Rtd Brig-Gen Mazinyane said, during the liberation struggle Cde Mphoko, who was the Zipra chief of logistics based in Zambia, was always in the thick of things, constantly visiting the war front to check on the cadres.
“He was the chief of logistics and would always lead by example. I remember when I worked with him during a mission near Victoria Falls which was to give signature to the enemy that Zipra was in operation. He made sure that we were well-kitted, well-fed and sometimes when we ran out of stocks he would go out of his way to improvise and make sure that the struggle was not stalled. That just exemplifies the commitment he had to the struggle,” he said.
Rtd Brig-Gen Mazinyane recalled some of the critical portfolios Cde Mphoko held in joint operations between Zanla and Zipra as well as some of the crucial roles he played during the war for independence.
He also explained why Cde Mphoko remained behind in Mozambique after the disbandment of the Zimbabwe People’s Army (Zipa) the joint operation between Zipra and Zanla.
“In 1975 when the Zimbabwe People’s Army, combining Zipra and Zanla forces was formed, Cde Mphoko was part of the command and held the position of chief of logistics. The Zipa command comprised such characters as Rex Nhongo (the late Retired General Solomon Mujuru) as commander and Nikita Mangena as the commissar. John Dube was the deputy commander.
“We moved from Zambia to Mozambique and I remember meeting Cde Mphoko at Hotel Polana in Maputo and he briefed us on what the Mozambican government expected of us.
“When Zipa gradually disbanded after a few hitches, Cde Mphoko remained behind in Mozambique as a Zapu representative, while most of the troops returned to Zambia,” he said.
Cde Mphoko was also part of the commission of inquiry set up to establish the reasons behind the disbandment of Zipa. The commission of inquiry included such cadres as the late Vice-President Cde Simon Muzenda.
After the war, Cde Mphoko also participated in the demobilisation exercise which Rtd Brig-Gen Mazinyane recalls was not an easy task.
“This was quite a sensitive issue because most of the young men only knew the language of the gun and nothing else. Convincing them to give up their guns and start lives outside fighting was a huge task and VP Mphoko was entrusted with it. He carried it out diligently, after which he joined Government and continued to work in various positions,” he said.
During the liberation struggle, Cde Mphoko was part of high command in the Joint Military Command (JMC) between Zipra and Umkhonto Wesizwe, where he also held the position of chief of logistics.
In 1971, he was also part of the earliest but short-lived collaboration between Zipra and Zanla, the Joint Military Command (JMC) , where he was also the chief of logistics.
JMC served the purpose of warding off attempts by James Chikerema to lure cadres to his breakaway party FROLIZI, which he claimed to be a combination of Zapu and Zanu.
In 1976, he was a delegate at the formation of the Patriotic Front, in Maputo, Mozambique, with JZ Moyo, George Silundika and Joseph Msika and attended many conferences as a delegate of the Patriotic Front.
