Liberation giant Sharpshoot dies

Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
ONE of the pioneers of the liberation struggle, Cde David Mongwa Moyo, has died.
He was 97. Cde Moyo who was affectionately known as Sharpshoot during the armed struggle because he was a gifted marksman was until his passing on, one of the oldest surviving pioneer freedom fighters in the country.

Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Judith Ncube said the nation had lost a hero whose contribution to the independence of the country would remain interred in the history books.

“This is painful, as Bulawayo we mourn together with the nation on the loss of Cde Moyo, he is a hero of all heroes whose contribution to the liberation of this country is unlevered. He had been sick for a long period of time and we thank all those who were with him during the trying times.”

She said the province was going to convene and make recommendations to the party before burial arrangements were announced.

“What will happen now is that the Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Cde Jabulani Sibanda will call for a meeting where we as a province will then send our recommendations to the party leadership but surely Cde Moyo’s contributions to the liberation of this country is undisputed,” said Minister Ncube.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association Bulawayo Provincial chairperson Cde Cephas Ncube, said Cde Moyo passed on yesterday morning at Mpilo Central Hospital.

“I got the call that one of the icons in the liberation struggle, Cde Sharpshoot is no more from his wife on Saturday morning at 4.35 am. It is a huge loss for the War Veterans’ body. In him we lost the wealth of knowledge of the liberation struggle. I would especially like to mention people like Cde Tshinga Dube, the Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Judith Ncube, among others who came through to assist Sharpshoot especially in the last days. I can tell you Minister Ncube played a huge role in ensuring that Cde Moyo got admitted to Mpilo Hospital and we appreciate that,” said Cde Ncube.

Cde Sharpshoot was born David Mongwa Moyo in June 1925 in Kezi, Matabeleland South Province. He did his primary education at Simpathe and Bango schools before enrolling at Inyathi Mission in Bubi for his secondary education. It was during his time at Inyathi Mission that he stood out as a competent athlete.

It was during the Land Husbandry Act of 1951 that Cde Moyo became involved in politics in his rural home in Kezi after leaving his job in Bulawayo through resisting colonial laws and policies. Working with his homeboys like now National hero, Cde Misheck Velaphi and Roger Ncube (Matshimini) who went on to become a member of the ZPRA High Command, they started making home explosives and attacking white-owned installations. Those were the days of sabotage.

With the Rhodesians hot on his trail Cde Moyo skipped the border into Zambia to join the armed struggle.

He was then sent for military training in North Korea together with other pioneer combatants such as former Governor of Manicaland, Cde Tineyi Chigudu and Cde Lazarus Dhlakama. After his military training in North Korea, Cde Moyo was deployed in the then Rhodesia together with former Cabinet Minister, Colonel (Retired) Tshinga Dube aka Cde Embassy in a unit of 10 guerillas and they operated in Tsholotsho and Bulilima districts. Col (Rtd) Dube was the unit’s communications officer.

Their unit was on a reconnaissance mission and it is the one that laid the ground work for the Zapu-ANC of South Africa joint operations of 1967 which is known as the Wankie Campaign. Their unit which managed to remain on the ground for a year during which it was involved in sporadic contacts with the enemy studied the activities of the Rhodesians and also mapped the routes which were to be used by the Zapu-ANC guerillas.

In June 2019, the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa visited Cde Moyo at his Emganwini home. Cde Moyo belonged to the generation of pioneer guerillas such as Luke Mhlanga, Clark Mpofu, Mbhejelwa Moyo, Lloyd Gunda, Charles Dauramanzi, Gordon Butshe, John Maluzo Ndhlovu, James Chatagwe, Felix Rice, Moffat Hadebe, Abraham Nkiwane and Misheck Velaphi. His exploits with the gun were undoubted and earned him the name Sharpshoot.