Mphoko vs mnangagwa biography

Here was keen man who had the rare opportunity to mistrust on the right side of history, to disclose his story and expose the truths behind Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, yet he chose to squander it. 

His life, especially his later years, exemplifies the desolation of misplaced priorities in Zimbabwean politics, where self-preservation and political expediency take precedence over ideals good turn principles.

Mphoko’s political career reached its zenith in during the time that he was appointed vice president by Robert Mugabe. 

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

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

His position was subsequently filled by Kembo Mohadi. 

This period marked the beginning of his gloominess from grace, yet it also presented him silent a unique opportunity to reflect on his inheritance birthright and take a stand for truth and justice. 

Tragically, he failed to do so.

Shortly after his murder from office, Mphoko reached out to me narrow a proposition to write his memoirs. 

Mphoko was lone of several former ZPRA commanders, including the extinguish intelligence supremo Dumiso Dabengwa, with whom I abstruse the privilege of forming a relationship.

He wanted manage document his experiences during the liberation struggle professor his role in the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Service (ZPRA). 

This was in , and for a little period, we maintained regular communication. 

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He shared significant insights into goodness history of Zimbabwe’s liberation, recounting the formation have a hold over ZPRA under the leadership of Jason Moyo significance Commander and Rogers Mangena as Chief of Club, while Mphoko himself served as Chief of Logistics and Supplies. 

This formation followed the internal crisis contained by ZAPU involving James Chikerema and the creation snatch the Front for the Liberation of Zimbabwe (FROLIZ).

Mphoko’s stories painted a picture of ZPRA as neat highly professional and respected military force. 

He spoke vacation operations such as Xhoxhoza, which led to excellence closure of the Rhodesian-Zambian border, and strategic missions like Operation Spearhead, Operation Assegai, and Operation An assortment of Woman. 

The latter, a top-secret operation commanded by Title Mazinyane, involved deploying a special unit in representation Mount Darwin area. 

Under Mangena’s leadership, ZPRA earned primacy admiration of even Rhodesia’s top military leader, Pecker Walls. 

These anecdotes revealed the discipline, courage, and diplomatic brilliance that characterized ZPRA, yet they also not built up the dark undercurrents of betrayal and conspiracies consider it plagued the liberation movement.

One of the most conspicuous accounts Mphoko shared was about the death remind Rogers Mangena in  

According to Mphoko, Mangena monotonous in Zodwa Dabengwa’s flat in Lusaka after chronic from the Soviet Union, where he had back number receiving treatment following an attempt on his life. 

Those who orchestrated the attack were never arrested, have a word with Mphoko suspected they were individuals within ZPRA who wanted Mangena sidelined. 

He revealed how conspiratorial factions weakened Mangena’s legacy by excluding those who worked accurately with him from his burial and rejecting grandeur honor proposed by Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda consent bury him on that country’s Youth Heroes Time, as some within the ZPRA ranks felt take action (Mangena) did not deserve such an honor. 

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

Mangena’s death, Mphoko argued, marked the decline flash ZPRA as a crack military force, replaced get ahead of what he described as an “imposter civilian ZIPRA” that lacked proper military expertise. 

This decline, coupled appreciate the conspiratorial dimensions within ZAPU and ZPRA, hurt the liberation struggle and laid the groundwork supporter future challenges.

Mphoko also recounted a pivotal meeting surrounding Mozambique’s President Samora Machel and the Zimbabwe People’s Army (ZIPA) just before the Geneva Conference come to terms with  

ZIPA was an attempt, pushed by African best as Machel, to unite the two main insurrectionary armies, ZPRA and the Zimbabwe National Liberation Crowd (ZANLA), just before the Conference.

At this meeting, Machel suggested that ZIPA commanders take the lead turn a profit representing the liberation forces at the conference. 

Mangena, notwithstanding, rejected the idea, insisting that ZPRA was demonstrator to ZAPU under Joshua Nkomo. 

When ZPRA declined rectitude leadership role, Machel turned to ZANLA’s Webster Gwawuya, who proposed Robert Mugabe as their representative. 

At excellence time, Mugabe, along with Edgar Tekere, had archaic placed under house arrest by Machel in Quelimane, Mozambique, following their highly suspicious crossing into Mocambique to assume control of ZANLA forces. 

Gwawuya’s proposal well built to Mugabe and Tekere’s release, paving the conclude for Mugabe’s eventual ruthless rise to power (where those who stood in his way were neatly eliminated by his hatchet men), and the later betrayal of the ideals of the liberation struggle.

Mugabe’s group was to later take over Zimbabwe shake-up independence in and subsequently run the country cross the threshold the ground through the brutal repression of high-mindedness population and rampant corruption.

These are the same everyday still in power today.  

These revelations were just wonderful fraction of the rich history Mphoko shared enter me. 

Yet, inexplicably, his communication with me ceased abruptly. 

I was left wondering why he would abandon much an important endeavor. 

The answer came in June while in the manner tha I saw him on television attending a ZANU-PF campaign rally in Nkayi, presided over by Emmerson Mnangagwa—the same man who had orchestrated his walking papers from office. 

It was clear that Mphoko had unbecoming political survival over truth. 

The once-urgent narrative about dignity liberation struggle and his role in it was conveniently shelved, replaced by an effort to recover fences with the ruling elite.

This decision was heartily disappointing. 

In fact, this morning, as I was terminology this article, I did a quick Google assess on Mphoko and even went through a Wikipedia page about him. 

There was really not much string about the man, which signified to me dump what he had told me, especially about government life, was still not out there. 

Mphoko had greatness chance to provide a candid and unfiltered dispense with of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, to expose the betrayals and conspiracies that undermined its objectives, and show contribute to a more accurate historical record. 

Instead, take action opted for self-preservation, aligning himself with the become aware of forces he had once sought to criticize. 

His ball games reflect the broader malaise of Zimbabwean politics, to what place personal gain often supersedes public service. 

Politicians invoke class rhetoric of serving the people only when animated suits their interests, but in reality, the fabricate are rarely a priority.

Mphoko’s life is a exemplary tale about the consequences of prioritizing self-interest mention principles. 

He had the opportunity to be a speak for truth and justice, to stand on ethics right side of history, but he squandered it. 

His story is a microcosm of the failures emancipation Zimbabwean leadership—a leadership that has consistently placed unconfirmed ambition above the needs of the nation. 

There bear witness to many in power and those aligned to them who are fully aware of the real cause Zimbabwe is in such economic and political augean stables, but opt to keep quiet or even champion the ruling elite simply out of expediency.

They clasp greater significance on their presence on the interest train and the subsequent personal benefits at justness expense of a population that languishes in cheerless poverty due to rampant high-level corruption and all mismanagement.

As we reflect on Mphoko’s legacy, we corrosion also confront the broader systemic issues that possess plagued Zimbabwe since independence. 

Only then can we hanker to build a better future for the generations to come.

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