On this day in 1939, the late Zimbabwean politician Dumiso Dabengwa was born in Bulawayo. He served as the head of Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) intelligence during the Rhodesian Bush War. In 1982 he was charged for perdifying his country and was set free in 1983 due to lack of clear evidence. From 1992 to 2000 he served as the Minister of home affairs. He ran as a ZANU-public finance candidate for a seat in the House of Assembly from Nkulumane in the 2000 election but was defeated by Movement for Democratic Change. In 2013, he was a candidate for ZAPU election.
On this day in 1940, Lieutenant General Lookout Khalisabantu Vumindaba Masuku was born. During the Second Chimurenga Masuku commanded the Zimbabwe People’s Reolutionary Army a military wing of the Zimbabwe African People’s Revolutionary Army (ZAPU) and after independance he served the country as the deputy commander of the Zimbabwe national Army (ZNA) up until 1982. In 1982, Lookout Masuku, Dumiso Dabengwa were arrested for allegedly planning to overthrow then Prime Minister Robert Mugabe. The supreme Court acquitted them on all counts but the police detained the officials for 4 years. Masuku was released from prison in March 1986 due to poor health and he died the following month.
On this day in 1968, Zimababwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) and South Africa’s African National Army (ANC) rebels joined forces and fought the Rhodesian Army at Sipolilo (now Guruve) district in Rhodesia. The battle resulted in 86 deaths.
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 1982, senior Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) members including Dumiso Dabengwa and Lookout Masuku were arrested and charged with treason.
On this day in 1982, commander of the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), a militant wing of Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) Lookout Masuku died due to cryptococcal meningitis at Parirenyatwa Hospital. General Masuku died a few weeks after his release from prison at the age of 45.