The Sunday News
ALTHOUGH it is nearly 44 years since the death of ZPRA commander, Cde Rogers Mangena, pseudonym Cde Alfred Nikita, for his widow, Mrs Sikhubekiso Madeya Mangena, the pain of losing her husband is still fresh.
Cde Alfred Nikita
Cde Mangena was killed when his Land Rover hit a Rhodesian-planted landmine near Kabanga Mission in Zambia on 28 June 1978.
Talking to Mrs Mangena about his death is like peppering a wound as witnessed by our Assistant Editor Mkhululi Sibanda (MS) during an interview on Friday afternoon.
When she started talking about how she received the news of the death of her husband, Mrs Mangena broke down and struggled to continue with the interview.
It was an emotional moment for her and her grandchildren who were around.
In the interview Mrs Mangena said it was unfortunate that she did not spend much of her time with her husband as he was always away because of his unparalleled commitment to the armed struggle.
Below are excerpts of the interview. Read on . . .
MS: Mrs Mangena, many people know Cde Rogers Mangena from what we have read and also from testimonies of those who served under him.
They say he was a tough commander and military strategist.
How was he as a husband and father?
Mrs Mangena: We hardly spent a lot of time with him as he lived at the ZPRA Headquarters at the Freedom Camp while myself and the children lived at a suburb called Chilenje (in Lusaka, Zambia).
Chilenje is the suburb where the late Zanu Chairman, Cde Herbert Chitepo lived.
We lived in the same neighbourhood before Cde Chitepo was killed.
I lived with the family of Max Nkosana and his wife, Rose who is currently in Harare.
Max Nkosana and his family were Zimbabweans who despite not being involved in the military side of things supported the struggle whole-heartedly.
Max Nkosana was working for GEC.
Like I said he was a staunch supporter of the liberation struggle.
Mangena used to visit us there and because of his dedication to the struggle he was always away.
In fact, we rarely had time with him.
MS: How many children were you blessed with?
Mrs Mangena: We had two, a son, Lotshe Youri Rogers Mangena and Leila Sehlule Mangena.
Lotshe was born in 1976 while we had Leila in 1977.
However, unfortunately Leila is now late.
She passed on a few years ago. Although their father was always away whenever he came home, which was rare of course, he was a loving dad and very nice to us his family.
However, he was very strict and a no-nonsense person.
MS: As the wife what was his favourite dish?
Mrs Mangena: He loved isitshwala which he ate with anything.
He could have it with beef and even beans, sugar beans. He was not choosy.
MS: Did he drink?
Mrs Mangena: Occasionally he took alcohol but was not hooked onto it.
MS: Who were his close friends?
Mrs Mangena: He related well with members of the ZPRA High Command, but I noticed that he was very close to Jason Ziyapapa Moyo and Sam Mfakazi.
Even after his death when I was sent to the Soviet Union for studies, my children remained living with the Mfakazi family.
In fact, Sam Mfakazi, another national hero was married to my sister, Sithandekile whom I am staying with. Sithandekile is the one looking after me as I am staying at their house since I do not have mine. I cannot afford to buy a house.
That is the reality and the situation I find myself in.
MS: When Cde Mangena passed on how did you receive the heart-breaking news?
Mrs Mangena: It happened that I was at Steven Vuma’s house, you know Vuma, another national hero.
The party President, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo then sent Vuma to come and collect me.
Vuma was assigned to take me to Nkomo’s offices at Long Acres, that is in Lusaka.
I was surprised and asked myself why Dr Nkomo wanted me in his offices, something did not add up.
Even my body was not alright, I was not ill but there was something that did not seem right.
Anyway I was driven by Vuma to Dr Nkomo’s offices.
When we got there we found Roma Nyathi, who is living here in Bulawayo.
Roma once served in the High Command.
We found Nyathi listening to the radio, but when we entered the room he was in, he quickly switched off the radio.
Vuma then proceeded to the office of Dr Nkomo (tears choking her).
Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo
He quickly came back and led me to the office, but when we got to the door, Vuma just peeped in and told Dr Nkomo that he had brought me.
In a second Vuma turned back and closed the door and remained outside.
There I was facing Dr Nkomo.
At that time I was no longer myself, at that stage it was apparent that there was something wrong. UMdala (Dr Nkomo) just stood by and said: “mntanami engizakutshela khona kubuhlungu.”
I don’t think he finished as those were the last words I heard, I passed out without hearing what followed (as she started weeping, we had to pause for some few minutes).
MS: Sorry gogo, but one last question, I am sorry. What are your parting words as we conclude this interview?
Mrs Mangena: I have a wish Mkhululi.
I wish the authorities can do us a favour as the family of Nikita Mangena.
Myself I am now old but I will not leave these children, I mean Rogers Mangena’s family anything.
I would be happy to be allocated a farm, so that these children can have what is theirs.
At the moment I am living at my sister’s house, koSam Mfakazi.
I am very grateful for their hospitality. I should also thank President Mnangagwa and his Government for the recognition they gave my husband, renaming the Zimbabwe National Defence University after him.
The Government did not stop there as it also conferred on him in 2021 the revered Grand Officer of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit (GZM) medal.
We were humbled by that.
