ZANU-PF Matabeleland South Province has requested national hero status for the late former Zipra regional commander for the Northern Front One (NF1) that covered Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central provinces, Cde Joseph Mbedzi.
He died on Tuesday last week aged 71 at Mvurwi Hospital staff quarters in Mashonaland Central Province where his wife is employed as a nurse.
Zanu-PF Matabeleland South secretary for administration, who is also the Deputy Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Cde Edgar Moyo said while Cde Mbedzi was now a member of the Mashonaland West War Veterans Provincial League by virtue of having settled in Kadoma during the land resettlement programme, he was originally from Beitbridge hence the leadership from his adopted province saw it fit to allow Matabeleland South province to handle all the request procedures.
“As we all know, Cde Mbedzi was a very senior commander at Zipra and his exploits are well documented. After Independence he decided to settle in Mashonaland West which was his area of operation during the protracted liberation struggle. After wide consultations within the province, it was unanimously agreed that we request a national hero status for this gallant son of the soil so I have since written the letter of recommendation and it was sent on Monday where we hope the leadership of President Mnangagwa will honour our request,” said Cde Moyo.
A brother to the late liberation war fighter and family spokesperson, Mr Edson Mbedzi, who is also the Chief Director in the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs said the family was awaiting the decision of the party and Government on the hero status.
He described his late brother as a brave, astute and a people’s commander who related well with the masses during the war.
“As we were growing up we looked up to him. He was quiet but a firm someone and elenkani perhaps the reason why he was also named Mpikiso. He was also a very brave man and as a family we have been left in a desert. Regarding his funeral, we stand guided by the party,” said Mr Mbedzi.
As NF1 commander, the late liberation war fighter’s region covered areas such as Guruve which was also the headquarters, Banket, Hurungwe, Chinhoyi, Magunje, Karoi and Umvukwes, which is now called Mvurwi.
Cde Mbedzi grew up in the arid district of Beitbridge after his family had been removed from the rich soils and good pastures in West Nicholson which made him resolve to one day free the masses from colonial bondage.
Cde Mbedzi told our sister publication Sunday News during an interview in 2018 that he crossed the border in 1974 via Botswana en route to Zambia where he then underwent military training as part of the famous 800 group at Morogoro in Tanzania.
“It was August 1974, we boarded a bus and dropped at Shashe and crossed into Botswana without an incident. The first port of call was Gobanjangwe then moved to Selibe-Phikwe where the police directed us to prison. We were kept inside the prison as part of a security measure. The Tswanas were afraid that the Ian Smith security forces would attack us if camp was set up so being kept in prison was safer.
“We were then moved to Francistown where we stayed for three weeks. When we got to Francistown we were received by the late Steven Vuma. For some unknown reason, Vuma started calling me platoon commander and being somebody who had a strong rural background I was surprised about what he meant, it was a real surprise for me. He emphasized that since there were 20 people at that facility in Francistown I should keep in mind that they were under my command. After three weeks we were flown to Zambia,” he said.
The late commander completed his intense training where they were using live ammunition during demonstrations, towards the end of 1976. They were 24 and he was the deputy platoon commander.
They then crossed the mighty Zambezi River, walked for 16 days before reaching Kachuta their first contact with the masses.
“From the Zambezi to the first village, which was Kachuta in Sipolilo now Guruve District in Mashonaland Central Province we took 16 solid days to reach Kachuta. When we crossed we were a platoon of 24 guerillas under the command of Cde Biggie Joe, umkhula wami. From the Zambezi River we went through a game reserve and it was a bit difficult, the terrain was terrible, very mountainous.
“When we left the forward base across the Zambezi in Zambia we were carrying heavy luggage each, that is why the Zipra training was tough and painful, it was meant to prepare one for the situation you will face during operations. So each one of us was given six packets of 1-and-a-half kg of mealie-meal, a 2kg packet of sugar, four tins of beef, two tins of beans, some milk and biscuits. We were told that each soldier should carry food that would last him for 30 days. In addition to food stuffs, we also had a kasha with 1 400 rounds of loose ammunition and that was shared among two comrades. Besides that, each had his weapon, in most cases an AK-47 rifle and four loaded magazines on each person, grenades both offensive and defensive. So you see the heavy load that we had on our hands. When war veterans say they suffered for this country they would not be joking, people went through hell to free this country,” Cde Mbedzi was quoted saying.
On why he decided to settle in Mashonaland provinces, he said: “I was there briefly and left. I came to stay here in Bulawayo, but later moved to Harare where we started a co-operative as former ZPRA cadres. In the 1985 elections I was in the Zapu campaign team in Mashonaland Central Province. At the height of the land reform programme I got a plot in Kadoma where I am into farming. I can say my home is now Harare and Kadoma, as for Beitbridge I go there occasionally. I am now a Kadoma and Harare man. Our people should learn to settle in any part of the country, that is what we fought for.”
Cde Mbedzi leaves behind a wife Tabeth, five children, one boy and four girls as well as 12 grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at House Number 24/230 Close, Budiriro 1 in Harare. – The Chronicle
