On this day in 1955, a Zimbabwean diplomat, brigadier and Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Russia was born. Sango served in the Zimbabwe Liberation War as a member of the ZANLA from 1975 to 1980. He was attested in the army and had held copious high level posts. To add, he holds a Masters in International Relations and in Business Administration.
On this day in 1966, Rhodesian government troops attacked Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) in Sinoia (present day Chinhoyi). The attack resulted in the death of 7 ZANLA rebels.
On this day in 1979, the late commander of the ZANLA guerrila army in Rhodesia Josiah Magama Tongogara died at the age of 41 in Mozambique. In 1965, in China he trained as military intelligence, mass mobilisation, guerrilla wars strategist and tactics at the Nanjing Higher Military Academy. On his return from China, he began to review military strategies. Cdr Tongogara played a very crucial role during the Lancaster Agreement for Independence in Zimbabwe 1979. On this day, he was involved in a fatal road accident on the main highway north of Maxixe as he was rushing to Chimoio military headquarters to inform the ZANLA commanders about the arrangements to ceasefire.
The 1981 Entumbane uprising also known as the Battle of Bulawayo or Entumbane II started around 20:00 around Entumbane area in Bulawayo on this day. It was a battle between two guerrilla factions, Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA). The battle ended on the following day.
The 1981 Entumbane uprising also known as Entumbane II or Battle of Bulawayo came to an end in the evening of this day. The battle resulted in over 260 deaths. A national army relief column was sent to stop this between ZIPRA and ZANLA forces.
Read more on what led to the uprising in the first place here.
On this day in 1940, the secretary and commander of the ZANLA troops Josiah Magama Tongogara was born in Selukwe (Shurugwi), Zimbabwe. Tongogara. He started his revolutionary activities in Zambia in 1963. His commitment towards the army led to his appointment army commander in 1972. General Tongogara died in 1979 at the age of 41.