CDE Walter Basopo, known in the struggle by his nom de guerre Cde Gerry Dzasukwa, was born on 23 February 1959 in Gutu District, Masvingo Province, to Lukas Shonhayi and Beatrice Basopo (née Muvuyi).
Education and Early Life
He began his education at Masema Primary School, where he studied from 1964 to 1970, before progressing to Mzingwane Secondary School in Matabeleland South, attending from 1971 to 1974.
Joining the Liberation Struggle
In 1976, at the height of Zimbabwe’s liberation war, Cde Basopo crossed into Mozambique to join the struggle for independence as a Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) cadre. He received his political orientation and ideological training at Chibawawa Transit Camp in Sofala Province, under the command of Cde Sando, until 1978.
He subsequently underwent military training at Tembwe Camp, successfully qualifying as a fully-fledged guerrilla fighter. His military skills were further honed at Posto Gogoi Training Camp, where he completed a rigorous nine-month guerrilla warfare training programme.
Following this, Cde Basopo was deployed to ZANLA’s Security Department in Manica Province, where he served as an assistant to the late Cde Vitalis Zvinavashe, who was then Deputy Chief of Military Security and Intelligence.
Tragedy and Continued Service
In 1979, Cde Basopo was selected for a medical assessment in Maputo as part of preparations for advanced training in Yugoslavia. However, during this period, he was involved in a tragic road traffic accident that claimed the life of Cde Vic More. Cde Basopo sustained severe injuries, leading to the amputation of one of his arms.
Later that year, during the ceasefire period, he returned to Rhodesia and was deployed to Mhondoro communal lands, where he played a pivotal role in leading the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) political mobilisation campaign in the lead-up to the historic 1980 elections.
