Online Reporter
Elliot Ziwira and Africa Moyo
The late national hero and former Vice President Phelekezela Report Mphoko, who was described by President Mnangagwa as a “stalwart of the liberation struggle”, was a dedicated servant of the nation, whose contribution to Zimbabwe’s independence was “immeasurable”.
Cde Mphoko died in India on December 6, 2024, at the age of 84, after a long illness.
The ZANU PF Politburo unanimously accorded him the status of national hero in recognition of his meritorious service to the country.
President Mnangagwa extended his condolences to the Mphoko family, particularly to Mrs (Laurinda) Mphoko and the children, urging them to take solace in the profound impact of his consistent commitment to the motherland.
In a condolence message, the President lauded the ex-Vice President’s notable contributions to Zimbabwe’s independence, including his role in logistics during the protracted armed struggle. Notably, he ensured the smooth delivery of arms and essentials to support the struggle for independence.
President Mnangagwa stressed that Cde Mphoko’s political and military career coincided with the formative days of combative nationalism against colonial subjugation, which later transformed into armed confrontation.
“With his sad departure, our nation has lost yet another stalwart of the liberation struggle, whose contribution to our hard-won independence can hardly be overstated,” said President Mnangagwa.
Cde Mphoko’s involvement in the struggle began in the 1960s.
He received military training in the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, and later joined ZAPU’s liaison department, which took him to Maputo, Mozambique, where the then ZANU was headquartered.
“We worked very closely with him, in the process laying groundwork and anticipating the eventual convergence of the two liberation movements into the Patriotic Front,” said President Mnangagwa.
His bravery and strategic thinking earned him a place among the pioneering commanders of the liberation war.
Born on June 11, 1940, in Gwizane, Bubi District of Matabeleland North Province, his educational journey began at David Livingstone Memorial School in Ntabazinduna and continued at Mzilikazi High School in Bulawayo.
He later enrolled at Tsholotsho Agricultural Breeding and Experimental School, where he honed his skills in crop and animal husbandry between 1959 and 1960.
Cde Mphoko’s early career was marked by his employment at Dunlop Rhodesia Ltd from 1962 to 1963, where he served as a workers’ representative in the moulding section.
However, his activism soon led to his arrest in 1963 for political violence after a confrontation with a Rhodesian police officer. He was sentenced to three years in jail and sent to Khami Prison, but successfully appealed and was granted bail awaiting retrial.
This pivotal moment sparked a turning point in his life. In 1963, he attended the Cold Comfort Farm People’s Caretaker Council Congress, which laid the groundwork for the armed struggle.
He was selected by ZAPU leader Cde Joshua Nkomo for military training, along with six other youngsters. Hence, on April 4, 1964, Cde Mphoko left for the Soviet Union, alongside comrades Albert Nxele, Ackim Ndlovu, Ambrose Mutinhiri, Walter Mbambo, Charles Chikerema, and Sam Dumaza Mpofu, where they were trained between May 1964 and February 1965.
His military career was distinguished, serving as one of the first seven commanders commissioned to recruit, train, and command Zimbabweans in the revolution. He played a crucial role in the first military command of ZAPU between 1965 and 1967, overseeing logistics and supply in the African National Congress/ZAPU Alliance.
As commander of the Joint Military rehearsals at Dan Nang base, Luthuli Camp, the national hero’s operations extended from Wankie to Sipolilo (now Guruve) between 1967 and 1968, and included collaborations with notable South African freedom fighters, like Joe Modise and Chris Hani, as well as Abraham Nkiwane and Dumiso Dabengwa, among others.
In 1971, he became a member of the Joint Military Command, a combined ZIPRA/ZANLA High Command formed in Mbeya, Tanzania.
Cde Mphoko was pivotal in the formation of the Patriotic Front in Maputo, Mozambique, alongside notable figures like Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo, George Silundika, and Joseph Msika, in 1976.
The following year, he represented Zimbabwe at the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Ad hoc Committee of Foreign Ministers in Luanda, Angola. His leadership skills earned him a spot as a military delegate at the Lancaster House Conference in 1979.
In 1980, he served as Special Envoy for Dr Joshua Nkomo, and fostered diplomatic relationships with several nations, including Mozambique, Swaziland (now Eswatini), Lesotho, Cuba, and the German Democratic Republic. He also served on the sub-committee that designed the Zimbabwe national flag.
In 1981, the national hero worked as deputy director for Demobilisation in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. His diplomatic career spanned multiple countries, with postings beginning in 1987.
Between 1996 and 1999, he pursued advanced courses in semen collection, artificial insemination and embryo transfer at the Institute of Genetics in Austria.
After independence, Cde Mphoko transitioned into diplomacy, serving as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Russia, Botswana (2002), and South Africa (2010). His distinguished career culminated in his appointment as Vice President in 2014, a position he held until 2017.
As President Mnangagwa highlighted, his impressive diplomatic career was steeped in his “early exposure to diplomacy” in Maputo, which was forged in “the crucible of the liberation struggle.”
He underlined that Cde Mphoko’s appointment to the post of Vice President by the late national hero and former President Robert Mugabe “was both deserved and consistent with his sacrifice and long service to his people”.
Throughout his life, the President emphasised, he demonstrated steadfast devotion to Zimbabwe’s liberation and development, which saw him unequivocally supporting ZANU PF’s resounding victory in the August 2023 harmonised elections after his service in Government.
Taking a cue from President Mnangagwa, and united in mourning the loss of a true patriot, we should, therefore, collectively preserve and immortalise Cde Mphoko’s legacy of versatility, dedication and untiring commitment to our nation.
