A Review of Blessing-Miles Tendi’s Biography of Solomon Mujuru
Cambridge University Press.
By Takura Zhangazha*
Blessing-MilesTendi’s biography of late national hero
Solomon Mujuru, better known by his liberation war nom de guerre Rex Nhongo, is
a riveting read. Not just because of its
subject matter but more because of the uniqueness in which the biography is
written. A mixture of the personal with political history, it is a biography
that gives a relatively holistic perspective of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
Without skirting the controversial issues thereto. Or on our post independence
politics. Tendi’s narrative weaves Mujuru’s life into the arenas of Zimbabwean state-making, liberation struggle/military history, post independence politics including personal fall-outs
within the ruling Zanu Pf establishment and finally an unforeseen and horrific
death.
Solomon Mujuru, better known by his liberation war nom de guerre Rex Nhongo, is
a riveting read. Not just because of its
subject matter but more because of the uniqueness in which the biography is
written. A mixture of the personal with political history, it is a biography
that gives a relatively holistic perspective of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
Without skirting the controversial issues thereto. Or on our post independence
politics. Tendi’s narrative weaves Mujuru’s life into the arenas of Zimbabwean state-making, liberation struggle/military history, post independence politics including personal fall-outs
within the ruling Zanu Pf establishment and finally an unforeseen and horrific
death.
What is more interesting is a different perspective on what
were Mujuru’s motivations for the actions he undertook at various stages in
his life. Tendi uniquely looks at
possible reasons for specific key decisions that Mujuru made over the course of
his life. This focus on agency seeks to
not only humanize Mujuru beyond the myth and present what would be a thorough
and candid perspective on the man’s actual life. Including descriptions of Mujuru’s personal life
such as his philandering and alcoholic tendencies.
were Mujuru’s motivations for the actions he undertook at various stages in
his life. Tendi uniquely looks at
possible reasons for specific key decisions that Mujuru made over the course of
his life. This focus on agency seeks to
not only humanize Mujuru beyond the myth and present what would be a thorough
and candid perspective on the man’s actual life. Including descriptions of Mujuru’s personal life
such as his philandering and alcoholic tendencies.
It is borderline a psycho-social analysis of
the late national hero. A rare angle at writing a biography of Zimbabwean
public figures. And one that must be
applauded.
the late national hero. A rare angle at writing a biography of Zimbabwean
public figures. And one that must be
applauded.
There are three issues that stood out for me in the biography.
The first being that Mujuru is presented as a man driven by
cause. That is, a young man motivated by a desire to end colonialism and racial
discrimination from his early years in high school under the night time
tutelage and activism of Kumbirai Kangai. Through to his years in Bulawayo
where, with his brother cautioning him against joining the Zimbabwe African
People’s Union (ZAPU) nationalists , he still persisted. Even
though, as described by Tendi, his intellect was limited based on late enrollment
in school and a poverty stricken childhood and a lack of confidence due to
stammering. This determination and motivation by cause found its form in Mujuru becoming an ‘action man’ which suited, as is
given in the book, his eventual military training in Zambia.
cause. That is, a young man motivated by a desire to end colonialism and racial
discrimination from his early years in high school under the night time
tutelage and activism of Kumbirai Kangai. Through to his years in Bulawayo
where, with his brother cautioning him against joining the Zimbabwe African
People’s Union (ZAPU) nationalists , he still persisted. Even
though, as described by Tendi, his intellect was limited based on late enrollment
in school and a poverty stricken childhood and a lack of confidence due to
stammering. This determination and motivation by cause found its form in Mujuru becoming an ‘action man’ which suited, as is
given in the book, his eventual military training in Zambia.
It was a pragmatism, as outlined by Tendi that would make
him initially view the struggle in less politically partisan terms. With a strong
desire to act more than politic. Hence his
defection from Zimbabwe Peoples Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) to Zimbabwe African
National Liberation Army (ZANLA). Which
was apparently motivated by the fact that he wanted to fight as opposed to waiting
on the political leaders to resolve their differences.
him initially view the struggle in less politically partisan terms. With a strong
desire to act more than politic. Hence his
defection from Zimbabwe Peoples Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) to Zimbabwe African
National Liberation Army (ZANLA). Which
was apparently motivated by the fact that he wanted to fight as opposed to waiting
on the political leaders to resolve their differences.
His commitment to struggle was beyond doubt. It was not, according to Tendi, ideological
but more pragmatic. Mujuru’s sterling work on expanding and also being at the
war front made him legendary among the Zanla guerillas.
but more pragmatic. Mujuru’s sterling work on expanding and also being at the
war front made him legendary among the Zanla guerillas.
Tendi however makes it clear that Mujuru was however also a schemer
of note. His interventions in supporting
Mugabe against the wishes of Samora Machel and Julius Nyerere proved to be one
of his most strategic master strokes even though he disavowed the Mgagao
declaration. The formation of the amalgamated
Zimbabwe People’s Army (ZIPA) was also indicative of his focus on military
action in order to further the liberation war.
And when that appeared to no longer work, he was quick to follow the
political leadership of the Dare’s directive to focus on ZANLA once again. A sore point for some of his former comrades
such as Dzinashe Machingura.
of note. His interventions in supporting
Mugabe against the wishes of Samora Machel and Julius Nyerere proved to be one
of his most strategic master strokes even though he disavowed the Mgagao
declaration. The formation of the amalgamated
Zimbabwe People’s Army (ZIPA) was also indicative of his focus on military
action in order to further the liberation war.
And when that appeared to no longer work, he was quick to follow the
political leadership of the Dare’s directive to focus on ZANLA once again. A sore point for some of his former comrades
such as Dzinashe Machingura.
Tendi emphasizes that Mujuru sought more to seek the best and
most pragmatic way to win the war or to at least make it more effective. And that the majority of his actions during
the liberation war never lost sight of that. He had an avowed commitment to fight.
most pragmatic way to win the war or to at least make it more effective. And that the majority of his actions during
the liberation war never lost sight of that. He had an avowed commitment to fight.
The second matter that stands out from the biography is
Mujuru’s apparent pursuit of recognition.
From the beginning Tendi makes it apparent that Mujuru would make up for
his flaws through his physical abilities and doing the extraordinary or unexpected. One anecdotal moment in the book is when
Tendi describes how Mujuru successfully courted one of the most beautiful girls
in his village against the expectations of his brother and sister.
Mujuru’s apparent pursuit of recognition.
From the beginning Tendi makes it apparent that Mujuru would make up for
his flaws through his physical abilities and doing the extraordinary or unexpected. One anecdotal moment in the book is when
Tendi describes how Mujuru successfully courted one of the most beautiful girls
in his village against the expectations of his brother and sister.
In his military training he didn’t exhibit all of the intellectualism
of his peers but focused at excelling in his military role. All not so much to be considered normal but
more exceptional. But all within the
ambit of the liberation struggle’s ethos and progress. This tendency was what
got him recognized as a leader not only by the liberation fighters but also by Nyerere
and Mbita ( the latter headed the OAU’s Liberation Committee).
of his peers but focused at excelling in his military role. All not so much to be considered normal but
more exceptional. But all within the
ambit of the liberation struggle’s ethos and progress. This tendency was what
got him recognized as a leader not only by the liberation fighters but also by Nyerere
and Mbita ( the latter headed the OAU’s Liberation Committee).
Tendi also outlines the pragmatic relationship that appeared
to have developed between Tongogara and Mujuru with the former recognizing in
part the former’s more hands on approach to revolutionary war. And this brings
us to a point where Mujuru becomes Tongogara’s successor by default due to the
latter’s death in an accident.
to have developed between Tongogara and Mujuru with the former recognizing in
part the former’s more hands on approach to revolutionary war. And this brings
us to a point where Mujuru becomes Tongogara’s successor by default due to the
latter’s death in an accident.
Mujuru would be the commander of ZANLA during the
demobilization process. Tendi accounts
for this role by lucidly explaining Mujuru’s interaction with generals that
formed the Commonwealth Monitoring Force (CMF).
While he was able to charismatically persuade unsettled ZANLA guerillas
to go to Assembly Points he also strategically ensured others would stay in the
villages mobilizing for Zanu Pf for the forthcoming elections. And also telling his counterparts in the CMF
that the former would win the general election.
demobilization process. Tendi accounts
for this role by lucidly explaining Mujuru’s interaction with generals that
formed the Commonwealth Monitoring Force (CMF).
While he was able to charismatically persuade unsettled ZANLA guerillas
to go to Assembly Points he also strategically ensured others would stay in the
villages mobilizing for Zanu Pf for the forthcoming elections. And also telling his counterparts in the CMF
that the former would win the general election.
What however stands out is how Mujuru
sought to get out of what Tendi refers to as the Fanonian ‘white gaze’. Mujuru was not looked upon as a typical
general by his white peers on the CMF and some of them said as much in
interviews with the author. Mujuru held
great disdain for any signs of disrespect and or a lack of recognition of his
role in the liberation struggle.
sought to get out of what Tendi refers to as the Fanonian ‘white gaze’. Mujuru was not looked upon as a typical
general by his white peers on the CMF and some of them said as much in
interviews with the author. Mujuru held
great disdain for any signs of disrespect and or a lack of recognition of his
role in the liberation struggle.
A third and final point from reading Tendi’s biography of
Mujuru is his post independence role. What
would make many a reader most curious would be what role Mujuru played in
Gukurahundi. Tendi explains that Mujuru may
have had no direct role in Gukurahundi and that the notorious 5th
Brigade reported mainly to either Mugabe and took orders from either the
Minister of Home Affairs (Herbert Ushewokunze) or the Minister of State intelligence
(Emmerson Mnangagwa). But that in any
event Mujuru would be complicit in it.
Mujuru is his post independence role. What
would make many a reader most curious would be what role Mujuru played in
Gukurahundi. Tendi explains that Mujuru may
have had no direct role in Gukurahundi and that the notorious 5th
Brigade reported mainly to either Mugabe and took orders from either the
Minister of Home Affairs (Herbert Ushewokunze) or the Minister of State intelligence
(Emmerson Mnangagwa). But that in any
event Mujuru would be complicit in it.
What was however more interesting was Mujuru’s dalliance with
the pursuit of individual wealth. It
turns out he bought a decent amount of property. This was particularly the case in Bindura which
Tendi writes was jokingly referred to as ‘Rex’ town due to the amount of
property he owned there. Tendi also
writes that this desire for accumulation could have been motivated by the fact
of his poverty stricken childhood and a desire to never let his own children
get back to those levels of penury.
the pursuit of individual wealth. It
turns out he bought a decent amount of property. This was particularly the case in Bindura which
Tendi writes was jokingly referred to as ‘Rex’ town due to the amount of
property he owned there. Tendi also
writes that this desire for accumulation could have been motivated by the fact
of his poverty stricken childhood and a desire to never let his own children
get back to those levels of penury.
There may have been more to it but what is relatively clear
from the biography is that Mujuru had developed close links with capital. And,
as Tendi writes, the bad turn of the economy would have influenced his fall out
with Mugabe and others in Zanu Pf. Or
his rumoured dalliance with the main opposition (Tendi writes that Mujuru would
on occasion phone the late opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.)
from the biography is that Mujuru had developed close links with capital. And,
as Tendi writes, the bad turn of the economy would have influenced his fall out
with Mugabe and others in Zanu Pf. Or
his rumoured dalliance with the main opposition (Tendi writes that Mujuru would
on occasion phone the late opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.)
His death in a suspicious fire is narrated in great detail.
Especially the alleged missteps of the subsequent police investigation as well
as Mugabe’s cold indifference in a cabinet meeting soon after the tragic
incident.
Especially the alleged missteps of the subsequent police investigation as well
as Mugabe’s cold indifference in a cabinet meeting soon after the tragic
incident.
*Takura Zhangazha writes here in his personal capacity
(takura-zhangazha.blogspot.com)
(takura-zhangazha.blogspot.com)
Blessing-Miles Tendi’s biography of Mujuru is available in Harare at Innov8 Bookshops.
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