Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic Correspondent
THE Kamungoma Battle site remains a stark reminder of the brutality inflicted by Rhodesian forces during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, where more than 100 civilians and a freedom fighter were killed in a single night.
As the nation prepares to celebrate 46 years of freedom, some of the survivors of the attack reflect on what transpired.
On the night of May 14, 1978, 104 civilians and one freedom fighter were killed during a pungwe gathering, or night vigil. These vigils were common and united the masses and freedom fighters as they served as political education meetings. A signal informed the Rhodesian forces of the gathering, and they planted themselves around this venue and opened fire on the masses.
Among the survivors was a three-year-old bay boy, Hondo Makorovodo.
“I just heard the story that my mother was bombed, and I was left here, and they found me trying to suckle from my mother’s breast, and so they took me to the hospital. My father told me I was given this name by freedom fighters as they said I had been left in a difficult set-up,” he said.
In April 2024, the Kamungoma Memorial Site was officially commissioned by President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa. It remains an integral part of the country’s history.
“Today, we have heroes and heroines who were maimed . The second republic embarked on a programme of enshrinement, which recognised places like Kamungoma. It is important for the nation to understand how we came to be what we are,” National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, Masvingo Regional Director, Mr Lovemore Mandima said.
Many died on that horrific night, but others lived to tell the story, they tell the story of the evil brutality unleashed by the Rhodesian forces. We are going to track them to find out what really transpired and how they felt when they realised they had been surrounded by the Rhodesian forces.
In a village close to the battle site is the Mapfumo homestead. The occupants, a mother and her daughter, have missing limbs, and they carry the psychological scars of May 14, 1978.
“The Kamungoma battle is one I can never forget. I was in grade six when we attended the night, Virgil. We just saw a bright light, and that is when it all started. We saw the freedom fighter double killer, and he shouted for all to go down. That is when gunfire erupted. We could hear people crying, and there was a second round of gunshots, and the cries became less as people were dying,” Kamungoma survivor, Ms Vongai Mapfumo stated.
“We got there, the comrades started addressing the meeting, and there was a son from the Kangoma family who loved to sing, the comrades were singing, and we just saw a huge light. I did not see how the other comrades were shot as I was already down, and I was lying there until my husband came. My whole jawline was dismantled when I woke up. I then realised I could not walk, and when I tried to speak, I could not. I was just trying to say I need water,” Kamungoma survivor, Mrs Patricia Mapfumo added.
After witnessing the struggle first hand, Mrs Mapfumo believes the nation should preserve the independence legacy.
“Our country went through a lot. War is a difficult thing; as we were working for our country, so we remain in our country.”
It was on a night like this, more than 40 years ago, that the Mapfumo family members were maimed as they gathered with many others who lost their lives on the night of Virgil. Their story reminds us of the gruesome nature of what transpired during the liberation struggle.
