Sinokubonga Nkala
Yesterday, we bade farewell to one of the country’s most decorated liberators, Cde Phelekezela “Report” Mphoko who also played major roles in the post-independence development of the country.
He was among the earliest people to have an appreciation of how deplorable the situation that Blacks were in was in their country way back in the early 1960s.
Our interest is drawn to the episode that started it all. After training in crop and animal husbandry at Tsholotsho Agricultural Breeding and Experimental School from 1959 to 1960, he secured a job at Dunlop in Bulawayo from 1960.
Like the few pacesetters during his time, his consciousness landed him a role as a trade unionist at the tyre making firm, serving from that year to 1963. The no-nonsense figure that he was exploded after a Rhodesian police officer had set his dog on him and his friends. His response to the dog attack was so robust and brave that it warranted an arrest, an appearance in a Rhodesian court and a three-year jail term at Khami Prison.
He appealed and was granted bail awaiting trial but he continued his political activism, securing the honour as a delegate at the Cold Comfort Farm People’s Caretaker Council Congress in that year.
Together with other early nationalists such as Cdes Albert Nxele, Walter Mbambo and Sam Dumaza Mpofu he was picked to go for military training.
Rather than waiting for a humiliating reappearance in a Rhodesian court, Cde Mphoko decided to do something far much better by going for military training in the then Soviet Union with five colleagues between May 1964 and February 1965.
He later returned to fight for his country in various capacities including being one of the first seven commanders commissioned to train other cadres. He was in the thick of things during the Hwange operations as well as in Guruve and was among the leaders who participated in talks — Lancaster House included — that led to national freedom in 1980.
Thereafter he served in the civil and diplomatic service until he was appointed Second Vice-President in December 2014.
His story speaks for itself, from his brave, resolute response to the dog attack, to commanding cadres, participation in the independence talks, diplomatic service to his vice-presidency.
We are inspired by Cde Mphoko’s record. The weak and politically illiterate could have run away from the Rhodesian cop and his canine to nurse dog bite wounds quietly at home. He would have none of it.
Instead, he personally took on the cop, a symbolic act of him personally taking on the colonial regime with his bare hands and understanding of the need to defend of the humanity of the majority from colonial humiliation and injustice.
We find that inspiring, as was his story from then on.
Apart from the National Hero’s bravery, we are encouraged by his humility and simplicity.
Despite his illustrious roles in the liberation war and post-independence development of the country, he remained the quiet giant from Gwizane until he rested on December 6 aged 84.
