Published by the government of Zimbabwe
M. A. Hamutyinei
7 March 2010
opinion
Harare — CDE Robert Mugabe's moderate speech after his party's resounding victory reminds me of the tough days with him in restriction between 1965 and 1966.
The speech reflects Cde Mugabe's diplomacy, statesmanship and flexible mind.
By the time I landed in WhaWha restriction area, Cde Mugabe was serving a prison sentence arising from a speech he made earlier in Salisbury (Harare) before he was restricted.
At WhaWha, we had the opportunity of receiving educational equipment for our studies, but the system was not based on a stable footing.
Students would go to their classes as they wished and, in some instances, classes did not function at all.
By the time we moved to Sikombela Camp in the western part of Kwekwe, we found ourselves in huge barracks and as usual, we used cushion mats with three blankets each.
Pre-UDI, we used to build our huts for the sake of privacy and quiet reading.
News that Cde Mugabe would arrive filled the whole camp with enthusiasm and we built him a hut in advance.
Cde Mugabe's hut, adjacent to that of the late Cde Leopold Takawira, was a simple dagga and pole square block with a door of reeds.
The experience of the monotonous life, punctuated by occasional roll-calls, made us immune to the boredom created from the news that UDI was imminent.
We had to cook for ourselves from the rations brought to us every Friday by the police.
The rations comprised vegetables, mealie-meal and some kilogrammes of meat.
We had to dry our meat in the sun to enable it to take us to the next Friday.
After negotiating with the Officer Commanding, we were allowed to prepare a football ground and we were provided with two balls.
On Sundays, after our studies and cooking, we delved into happy moments, which made us forget our plight.
It wasn't a matter of age, ability in soccer, nor any kind of previous experience. We just formed teams.
Cde Takawira was playing No. 11. I remember myself tipping the goalie to let the delivery from Cde Takawira roll in so that we could hold him shoulder-high.
Cde Moses Mvenge sent a nice pass to Mr Takawira. The pass which we termed a "nice cake".
The recipient first jumped with joy and then kicked the ball into the goal to equalise for his team.
We all streamed to him and held him up on our shoulders shouting: "The Lion of Chilimanzi! Long Live Zimbabwe!"
A few days later, Cde Mugabe was brought into Sikombela. This was when we experienced radical changes in our way of life.
After an executive meeting, Cde Mugabe addressed us, outlining new measures, embracing issues such as efficient running of classes, an absolute sanitary system, discipline and thorough study.
I was elected education liaison officer, working directly with Cde Mugabe himself.
We first held a meeting to select teachers for classes ranging from Sub A to Junior Certificate level.
It was stressed that teachers would study only at night. Cde Mugabe himself supervised the classes and made sure that all students were doing their assignments and made corrections where necessary.
It was the first time that I witnessed a person turning the nights into days.
Cde Mugabe and Cde Edison Sithole would read and type throughout the nights.
At sunrise, they would wash and simply joined others in the daily routines of washing plates and getting ready for classes.
Every morning, there was a hush in and around the whole camp.
Occasional visitors were even advised to come in the afternoon in order not to disturb time for studying.
For the rest of my life, I will never forget the day when Cde Mugabe questioned me on an incident of negligence.
It was during the time when I was preparing for my GCE O-Level examination.
I was in charge of all sanitary requirements in the camp. The boys under my orders were always very particular with their routines, but on this particular day they had failed to put the rubbish into the bins.
I did not supervise them, nursing my confidence with the "all-is-well" belief.
"Cde Hamutyinei," he called me. "Come along with me, please."
He pointed to a heap of rubbish teaming with flies. I did not say anything.
He scrutinised my face. Cde Mugabe seldom smiles, but at this moment he smiled and said: "You know, we are struggling in order to rule ourselves, to achieve self-determination and where necessary to punish ourselves when we fail to fulfil our commitments. Here you have failed your obligation.
"Nobody is going to punish you. Neither shall I punish you. We all wish to see what type of punishment you are going to impose on yourself."
He punctuated his words with a soft cough before he left. I remained there in self-pity and embarrassment. I said to myself: "So this is Cde Mugabe, the secretary-general of our party."
Some people may think that I did not punish myself. The punishment I gave myself from that day was "never to ignore an obligation" even if there is nobody to supervise me.
Cde Mugabe also showed foresight in the game of draughts.
He allowed all the inmates to play the game amongst themselves so that he would play with the champion. Towards the evening, we would assemble to watch him play with our champion. After one move, Cde Mugabe would declare that the contest was finished.
Every time he said this, it turned out to be true. We later nicknamed him "The cock of draughts" -- an attribute that was to find its way into his party's system and election victory.
The late M A Hamutyinei was a writer and educationist. This article was written soon after President Mugabe (then Prime Minister) delivered his famous Independence speech in 1980.
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