Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
War veterans have described the late national hero Brigadier General (Retired) Shadreck Dingaan Ndabambi as a principled man who courageously risked his life for the liberation of the country.
The late Brigadier General (Retired) Ndabambi developed an interest in liberating his country at an early age, according to war veterans who knew him.
Brigadier General (Retired) Mawire Mutasa who met General Ndabambi at Ranch House College in 1973, says the two developed a close friendship and would later assault a white woman in Philpot and Collins bookshop in the then Salisbury leading to their detention.
Following their release, both men took secret decisions to join the liberation struggle.
“After release form detention, that’s when we made our minds to join the war. I just said to my colleague, I am going to the farm. He later saw I wasn’t coming back and went to join the war as well via Manica. I operated here in Tete province in ’74, 5, 6 and I went to training after détente. That’s when I met Cde Shady, he was injured, got treated and he went back to the front. That’s when we parted and I went to Gaza. We again met after independence. So, our relationship has always been very close as young men and that translated again to after retirement,” he said.
ZANU PF War Veterans League National Secretary for Administration, Cde Richard Chirongwe met the late General Ndabambi in Mozambique and fondly remembers him as a well-organised cadre.
“I stayed with him from around 1975. I started knowing him at Junta in Mozambique, Chimoio, it was called Villaperry. He was returned when he came at first as he and others were said to be too young to join the liberation struggle. So, when they returned to Zimbabwe they went to where Cde Tangwena was. That place is the one which Cde Mugabe came through and they returned along with him. Because of that they were not told to go back like the first time. He then went to Nyadzonia, we were there as well, we opened that camp. It was for the Mozambicans. They left there going for training at Tembwe and I went to Tanzania.
“So, I worked with him because I was in security. We ended up both being commanders. He was soft, understanding and worked well with others. Everything he did was well planned.”
The demise of Brigadier General Ndabambi has not only robbed the war veterans’ fraternity and his family, but the nation at large as his larger than life achievements have earned him national hero status.
He is survived by his wife and three children.
Mourners are gathered at Plot 7, Virginia Farm in Glendale, Mazowe District.
