Today in History
In this article, historian Cde Steven Trinity Chidawanyika, also ZANU PF Director of Labour, shares information about the Nevada Farm battle, which occurred on the 17th of May 1966.
Cde Edmund Nyandoro led an eight member team of guerrillas who crossed into the country from Zambia through the Chirundu Sugar Estate as the liberation struggle for Zimbabwe began.
Five other groups were meant to cross over on the 31st of March heading for the different regions. A group heading for the Southern region was led by Benson Nhema.
The group heading to Salisbury (Harare), called the Urban Guerrilla Warfare was led by Horas Nyazika.
A two member group with George Mudukuti and Fabian Magwanza was heading for Beitbridge to destabilize the railway lines coming from South Africa.
The Eastern region group led by Simon Chingozho Nyandoro conducted the Chinhoyi Battle and the seven heroes died there. The seven heroes are Simon Chingozho Nyandoro as the Commander, Christopher Chatambudza, the Deputy Commander, Godwin Manyerenyere, David Guzuzu, Chubby Sawana Mutendadzamera, Godfrey Mayihlatani Dube and Arthur Maramba.
The Western region team was led by Stephen Musungwa Zvinawashe and Guma Matsikidze, however their boat capsized and could not cross over that night.
Today in History celebrates the heroic exploits of the team of the Northern region led by Edmund Nyandoro. The other members were Noah Gumbochuma, who was the Deputy Commander, Steven Chizamba, Nathan Net Charumuka, Petros Shenjere, Chomusewe Kukurakurerwa, Samson Mandedza and Naison Watama.
The Nevada Farm Battle occurred 18 days after the Chinhoyi Battle led by Simon Chingozha Nyandoro.
It was here that the guerrillas killed a white man called Johannes H Viljoen, at Nevada Farm.
Between 17 May 1966 and the end of that month, many battles were fought as the group of eight had grown to 30 fighters after having recruited locals like of Africa Muriri and the popular Lemekezani Mirioni.
They fought until the initial eight group members were captured with others such as Lemekezani disappearing into farms and working as farm labourers.
We celebrate the selfless sacrifice of the men and women who fought for Zimbabwe's freedom from colonial rule.