The battle of Ndungwane: a testament to the resilience and tenacity of ZPRA

The battle of Ndungwane, which took place in August 1979 in what is now Ward 12 of Gwanda, in the village of Ndungwane under Chief Mathe, is a testament to the resilience and tenacity of ZPRA fighters. This living legend also demonstrates the level of planning and discipline within ZPRA units, especially during serious crises. The battle followed a very intriguing chain of events which have become part of its legend to date.

Its success was also the result of a series of fortuitous incidents. At the centre of that battle was Commander Knox, the leader of a company trained in Mlungushi, Zambia. Commander Knox developed a mysterious illness that did not respond at all to Western treatment and medication.

With the commander’s deteriorating condition causing so much concern within the company, some comrades suggested Julius Ngulube, a traditional healer who operated near the Ntalale causeway on the river Tuli. On this topic• Mnangagwa orders end to raw mineral exports as Zimbabwe pushes value addition• Mangwe residents’ group petitions council over taxes and border revenue• Bulawayo veld fires surge 75% as city blames careless burning • Mnangagwa orders end to raw mineral exports as Zimbabwe pushes value addition• Mangwe residents’ group petitions council over taxes and border revenue• Bulawayo veld fires surge 75% as city blames careless burning • Mnangagwa orders end to raw mineral exports as Zimbabwe pushes value addition • Mangwe residents’ group petitions council over taxes and border revenue • Bulawayo veld fires surge 75% as city blames careless burning Because Knox was in a bad state, the herbalist had to be brought to him in Ndungwane. This posed challenges because of the distance to be covered, as the countryside was littered with Rhodesian patrols and checkpoints.

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A lorry belonging to Dalayi Nare was quickly mobilised and dispatched to Ngulube, with Enoch Moyo of Tshingasaka from Matobo behind much of the planning and execution, and also behind the wheel. To execute this King Tshaka of a task, Moyo was assisted by Kenneth Mabheka, a young lad from Makokwe village in today’s Ward 12 in Gwanda. Mabheka was an active youth within ZPRA’s support network.

His task was to accompany the driver to Ntalale and help navigate the minefields of checkpoints along the way. Moyo, together with Limakatso Nyathi, was a local entrepreneur who ran a fairly successful business buying goats and pigs from villagers for resale in Bulawayo. Limakatso Nyathi is the current headman Selebogo. He is from Sankonjani, Ward One, in Matobo District.

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