The Battle of Ngwana: ZPRA veterans recall defining 1977 victory

The Battle of Ngwana, fought in Ngwana Village in Bulilima-Mangwe District (now Bulilima District) on 7 June 1977, remains etched in the memories of those who witnessed it, particularly Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZPRA) commander Thomas Nyathi, whose account forms the basis of this narrative. Commander Thomas said it was at this battle that he first took the life of an enemy soldier. He vividly remembers the soldier falling over a fence in a field during that intense battle.

Thomas, who later became the Regional Commander of Southern Region 1, was part of a unit of six which originally came into Botswana from Zambia with Commander Lookout ‘Mafela’ Masuku. The unit was part of the first group of the Mwembeshi-trained guerrillas. Commander Masuku left the group in Botswana, whereupon they joined Elliot Mahlole, who had come from the front to meet newly deployed cadres.

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The small group of guerrillas had their first meal at Tokwana Village. They then proceeded to Ngwana Village. At Ngwana, they were told that some Rhodesian soldiers were camped near the community borehole.

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