TITLE:
Remembering Zimbabwe’s War of Liberation through Memories of the August 25 1979 Mushayi Battle, Dambara Area, Gutu
AUTHORS:
Joshua Chakawa, Rudolf Nyandoro
KEYWORDS:
Guerrilla, Peasants, Pungwe, Rhodesian Operatives
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Historical Studies,
Vol.9 No.4,
December
7,
2020
ABSTRACT: In rural areas, the liberation war is often
remembered through specific battles which afflicted permanent scars on
communities. This is the case with the Mushayi battle of 25 August 1979 which
involved the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) guerrillas and
Rhodesian Security Forces (RSFs). The Mushayi homestead is about 63 km from the
small town of Gutu in Masvingo Province. It is located in Dambara area
comprising small scale commercial farms (formerly Native/African Purchase
Areas). The suffering of affected people as a result of the said battle is
central to understanding post-war healing, reconciliation and integration at
local level because memory is key in making sense of the world people live in.
Grassroots perceptions are important because the sense of sameness over time is
sustained by remembering. Political status in Zimbabwe today, 41 years after
the armed struggle is hinged on liberation war credentials. The importance of
the paper lies in locating demands for compensation and restitution by some
victims of the war not only in Zimbabwe but throughout Africa. It also dispels
allegations that African Purchase Area farmers always sided with the minority
regime since Rhodesians had originally established them to create a content
loyal middle class. Last, the article explores the contribution of Purchase
Areas as important places for resting, meeting and recuperating under the cover
of vegetation.