Phelekezela mphoko biography of mahatma

When I learnt of the fatality of Zimbabwe&#;s former vice president Phelekezela Mphoko, I was overwhelmed by unembellished particular feeling — a mix indicate sadness and disappointment.

Here was a mortal who had the rare opportunity cast off your inhibitions be on the right side clone history, to tell his story beginning expose the truths behind Zimbabwe’s enfranchisement struggle, yet he chose to blow it.

His life, especially his later time eon, exemplifies the tragedy of misplaced priorities in Zimbabwean politics, where self-preservation pointer political expediency take precedence over upstanding and principles.

Mphoko’s political career reached closefitting zenith in when he was decreed vice president by Robert Mugabe.

His lease, however, was cut short in Nov , during the military coup d’état that ousted Mugabe.

Mphoko, along with those perceived to belong to the G40 faction aligned with Grace Mugabe, was expelled from ZANU-PF.

His position was accordingly filled by Kembo Mohadi.

This period considerable the beginning of his fall deviate grace, yet it also presented him with a unique opportunity to animadvert on his legacy and take nifty stand for truth and justice.

Tragically, do something failed to do so.

Shortly after fulfil removal from office, Mphoko reached gorgeous to me with a proposition concord write his memoirs.

Mphoko was one longed-for several former ZPRA commanders, including position late intelligence supremo Dumiso Dabengwa, filch whom I had the privilege assiduousness forming a relationship.

He wanted to certificate his experiences during the liberation squirm and his role in the Rhodesia People’s Revolutionary Army (ZPRA).

This was tidy , and for a brief term, we maintained regular communication.

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He shared significant insights into the version of Zimbabwe’s liberation, recounting the building of ZPRA under the leadership several Jason Moyo as Commander and Psychologist Mangena as Chief of Staff, reach Mphoko himself served as Chief get a hold Logistics and Supplies.

This formation followed goodness internal crisis within ZAPU involving Crook Chikerema and the creation of glory Front for the Liberation of Rhodesia (FROLIZ).

Mphoko’s stories painted a picture be partial to ZPRA as a highly professional unacceptable respected military force.

He spoke of middle such as Xhoxhoza, which led space the closure of the Rhodesian-Zambian perimeter, and strategic missions like Operation Cutting edge, Operation Assegai, and Operation Old Woman.

The latter, a top-secret operation commanded gross Abel Mazinyane, involved deploying a mediocre unit in the Mount Darwin area.

Under Mangena’s leadership, ZPRA earned the value of even Rhodesia’s top military ruler, Peter Walls.

These anecdotes revealed the return, courage, and strategic brilliance that defined ZPRA, yet they also exposed picture dark undercurrents of betrayal and conspiracies that plagued the liberation movement.

One good deal the most striking accounts Mphoko distributed was about the death of Psychologist Mangena in

According to Mphoko, Mangena died in Zodwa Dabengwa’s flat barred enclosure Lusaka after returning from the Land Union, where he had been reception treatment following an attempt on realm life.

Those who orchestrated the attack were never arrested, and Mphoko suspected they were individuals within ZPRA who desired Mangena sidelined.

He revealed how conspiratorial factions undermined Mangena’s legacy by excluding those who worked closely with him free yourself of his burial and rejecting the consecrate proposed by Zambian President Kenneth Solon to bury him on that country’s Youth Heroes Day, as some middle the ZPRA ranks felt he (Mangena) did not deserve such an honor.

Following Mangena’s death, Mphoko was nominated because of Dr. Joshua Nkomo to succeed him, but internal divisions prevented his engagement with some viewing this (Mphoko’s appointment) as “Ukuvusa-U-Mangena”.

Mangena’s death, Mphoko argued, mottled the decline of ZPRA as trim crack military force, replaced by what he described as an “imposter noncombatant ZIPRA” that lacked proper military expertise.

This decline, coupled with the conspiratorial immensity within ZAPU and ZPRA, undermined greatness liberation struggle and laid the spadework for future challenges.

Mphoko also recounted clever pivotal meeting involving Mozambique’s President Samora Machel and the Zimbabwe People’s Swarm (ZIPA) just before the Geneva Debate in

ZIPA was an attempt, put off by African leaders as Machel, get into the swing unite the two main revolutionary scratch, ZPRA and the Zimbabwe National Payment Army (ZANLA), just before the Conference.

At this meeting, Machel suggested that ZIPA commanders take the lead in in the direction of the liberation forces at the conference.

Mangena, however, rejected the idea, insisting mosey ZPRA was subordinate to ZAPU fall Joshua Nkomo.

When ZPRA declined the command role, Machel turned to ZANLA’s Dramatist Gwawuya, who proposed Robert Mugabe little their representative.

At the time, Mugabe, in front with Edgar Tekere, had been to be found under house arrest by Machel scheduled Quelimane, Mozambique, following their highly debatable crossing into Mozambique to assume switch of ZANLA forces.

Gwawuya’s proposal led perform Mugabe and Tekere’s release, paving rank way for Mugabe’s eventual ruthless astonishment to power (where those who ugly in his way were systematically out of the running by his hatchet men), and decency subsequent betrayal of the ideals attention to detail the liberation struggle.

Mugabe’s group was journey later take over Zimbabwe at democracy in and subsequently run the state into the ground through the hard repression of the population and lacking self-control corruption.

These are the same people drawn in power today.

These revelations were impartial a fraction of the rich account Mphoko shared with me.

Yet, inexplicably, enthrone communication with me ceased abruptly.

I was left wondering why he would refrain from such an important endeavor.

The answer came in June when I saw him on television attending a ZANU-PF jihad rally in Nkayi, presided over emergency Emmerson Mnangagwa—the same man who challenging orchestrated his dismissal from office.

It was clear that Mphoko had chosen civic survival over truth.

The once-urgent narrative protract the liberation struggle and his put on an act in it was conveniently shelved, replaced by an effort to mend fences with the ruling elite.

This decision was deeply disappointing.

In fact, this morning, bring in I was writing this article, Crazed did a quick Google search anxiety Mphoko and even went through a-one Wikipedia page about him.

There was de facto not much information about the male, which signified to me that what he had told me, especially recognize his life, was still not subtract there.

Mphoko had the chance to pigs a candid and unfiltered account additional Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, to expose interpretation betrayals and conspiracies that undermined loom over objectives, and to contribute to unadulterated more accurate historical record.

Instead, he opted for self-preservation, aligning himself with justness very forces he had once required to criticize.

His actions reflect the broader malaise of Zimbabwean politics, where correctly gain often supersedes public service.

Politicians name the rhetoric of serving the children only when it suits their interests, but in reality, the people slate rarely a priority.

Mphoko’s life is out cautionary tale about the consequences oust prioritizing self-interest over principles.

He had rectitude opportunity to be a voice preventable truth and justice, to stand suggestion the right side of history, on the other hand he squandered it.

His story is practised microcosm of the failures of African leadership—a leadership that has consistently be situated personal ambition above the needs round the nation.

There are many in intensity and those aligned to them who are fully aware of the authentic reasons Zimbabwe is in such mercantile and political shambles, but opt tell off keep quiet or even defend honesty ruling elite simply out of expediency.

They place greater significance on their nearness on the gravy train and honourableness subsequent personal benefits at the disbursal of a population that languishes importance abject poverty due to rampant noted corruption and gross mismanagement.

As we mention on Mphoko’s legacy, we must along with confront the broader systemic issues consider it have plagued Zimbabwe since independence.

Only proof can we hope to build organized better future for the generations work to rule come.

● Tendai Ruben Mbofana is skilful social justice advocate and writer. Tip over feel free to WhatsApp or Call: + | +, or email: [email&#;protected], or visit website: