The Sunday News
WE continue our interview with former Zipra camp commander of the Freedom Camp (FC), Cde Josiah Ndlovu whose pseudo name was Silver Bafana. Ndlovu is a household name in Bulawayo’s social and entertainment circles as he once ran a thriving shebeen business along the lines of the tavern system in South Africa. Cde Ndlovu was in the thick of things during the war of liberation, a senior cadre in Zipra for that matter who rose through the ranks to command FC, which was situated a few kilometres from Zambia’s capital, Lusaka. Cde Ndlovu survived the 19 October 1978 bombing that claimed hundreds of cadres on that fateful day. He almost lost his left leg when he was hit by a shrapnel.
He also sustained injuries on his thigh. In today’s interview Cde Ndlovu speaking to our Assistant Editor Mkhululi Sibanda (MS) gives an account of how he survived the 19 October 1978 when the Rhodesian forces swooped on FC, resulting in hundreds of Zipra cadres, a majority of them untrained personnel and also cadres of the African National Congress (ANC) military wing, Umkhonto WeSizwe (MK) of South Africa perished. During the interview Cde Ndlovu also took the opportunity to reminisce about his days when he was running a shebeen at his Magwegwe North home. Below are excerpts of the interview. Read on . . .
MS: On your return to Zambia from the Soviet Union where were you deployed?
Cde Ndlovu: I was deployed to the front along the Zambezi River and we used to make incursions into Mashonaland West Province. I was also at one point deployed to a transit base in Kavalamanja Village, on the Zambian side. That is where we had fierce fighting against the Rhodesians forces. I was later on withdrawn from the front and deployed to the Freedom Camp where I became the overall logistics officer.
When FC was bombed I was not its overall commander as mentioned in some quarters. I took over command after that incident.
MS: Then as a senior commander at FC, some people have blamed the command at the camp for having been caught napping, resulting in the high casual rate. What are your comments on that?
Silver shows his injuries
Cde Ndlovu: To be honest when FC was bombed it had ceased to be a fully operational military, it was no longer the Zipra headquarters as the Rhodesians thought. So, when the Rhodesians attacked us they were few trained personnel there. A majority of comrades who were there were people on transit to receive military training in Angola while others had arrived from abroad. The camp also was not as protected as it should have been. This was because it was close to the Zambian capital, Lusaka. The Zambians were not comfortable with us deploying heavy weapons because of FC’s proximity to their capital. With such a background we never anticipated that the Rhodesians would have the courage to freely fly over the Zambian space and attack us. It never crossed our minds because of such a situation obtaining on the ground.
Although as military people we should not have left things to chance. But of course the military instinct kept on saying “deploy weapons that can protect the camp,” it was not going to be easy because the Zambians were not comfortable as I have alluded above. The other issue was that in fact FC had largely become an agricultural enterprise run by Cde Amon Jirira.
MS: But you guys as commanders, did you not get any indications that the camp would be attacked?
Cde Ndlovu: There was none. We were all taken by surprise. To be honest with you, some of us were lucky to escape death there. When the Rhodesians started bombing us, I was near the kitchen. To make matters worse there was an open ground, which was a field for growing crops by Jirira and that denied us cover. We were very exposed and at the mercy of the Rhodesian forces. I was armed, but what could one do with an assault rifle, an AK-47. During the attack I was hit by shrapnel here (pointing at a large scar on his leg) and here (partly lowering his trousers to show another scar on his thigh). However, despite the setback that I found myself in, I still managed to break free from the Rhodesians. I managed to get out of the camp where I was joined by other comrades. Then later I started feeling unbearable pain. I was one of the people who were assisted by the Zambians to get to the United Teaching Hospital in Lusaka where we received treatment.
MS: Then came the time for the ceasefire. Where were you at that time?
Cde Ndlovu: After the bombing at FC I was promoted to the Zipra High Command and I worked in Zambia until the announcement of the ceasefire. However, when others were moving to Zimbabwe to get into the assembly points (APs), I was part of large Zipra contingent that remained in Zambia as a reserve force in case the Rhodesians were up to some mischief. We had to assess the situation to see that the ceasefire was holding. We only arrived into the country later on through the Chirundu Border Post. Other comrades and I moved to Chitungizwa Camp and later on Gwayi River Mine. I did not join the Zimbabwe National Army as I preferred to be demobilised.
MS: Why did you prefer to be demobilised?
Cde Ndlovu: I felt I had served enough in the military and stayed long in the bush. I wanted a quiet life from the rigours of the military. So after demobilisation I picked and dusted my form, which was for being on the Bulawayo City Council housing waiting list. I had to re-organise my life. When I left for the war I was on the council’s housing waiting list. My first preference for a house was in Lobengula West, kuma four. However, I was told that there were houses in Old Magwegwe, a two-roomed structure and another in Pumula. While I was still thinking on what to do I was informed that there were other two houses in Magwegwe North, that is why I ended up being here.
MS: Besides being a war commander, you were known for running a thriving shebeen business. Tell us more.
Cde Ndlovu: As someone who wanted to make a living, I started a shebeen of course. To me it was part of being in business although it was illegal according to the country’s laws to sell alcohol at residential places. However, I tried to formalise the shebeen business. I started by forming an association of shebeen kings and queens. I chaired that association. I ran it so well that we got recognition from the National Breweries (Natbrew) now Delta whose management from time to time would invite us to their plant. They saw us as serious stakeholders in their business. The next stage in our roadmap to formalise shebeens was to go to South Africa on a learning exercise or fact finding mission on how those people across the Limpopo were running their shebeens which they call taverns. I led our delegation and toured taverns in Johannesburg and we were impressed with what we saw. In South Africa they are legal entities and when I returned home, I copied the way the shebeens in SA are run. That is why here at my home, the shebeen never interfered with my family. I constructed a nice shed outside the main house with a full bar, television stand and seats. That is how South African shebeens operate. At one point I called a meeting for shebeen kings and queens, which was graced by the late Vice-President Dr Joseph Msika. The meeting was held here at my premises. Cde Msika was charmed with what he saw.
MS: So you saw nothing wrong with running a shebeen?
Cde Ndlovu: Shebeens are part and parcel of the Bulawayo culture, although I am not running one now following my brush with the law, I still believe the Second Republic, which is doing well in addressing the aspirations of the people can give a thought on that. The country’s story of the armed struggle is incomplete without mentioning shebeens. Comrades and nationalists were given cover by shebeen queens, that is where strategies were crafted. So to me shebeens are part of our culture and identity. That is why they are popular despite the fact that they are illegal. To some, small as they are, they are a serious business enterprise that has seen some raising their families.
MS: But Cde Ndlovu, shebeens are associated with all sorts of vices such as violence and prostitution.
Cde Ndlovu: Such activities are not only confined to shebeens, they can happen anywhere. However, when I was still running my shebeen I never allowed such things on my premises. Those who became violent I either banned them from coming here or I dealt with them physically. I used to suspend patrons from entering my premises if they were not disciplined. When I lifted the suspension on an individual that individual would pay a fine through buying six pints which I would give to other patrons to drink for free.
MS: So, when you talk of dealing with people physically, what do you mean?
Cde Ndlovu: As a former military man I found it easy to use a sjambok on a patron whose behaviour did not conform to the standards I had set here. Ngangimtshaya umuntu nxa esedakwe kubi.
