He survived the splattering of Mugabe's Gukurahundi guns, but the torture scars emblazoned deep in his secret and emotional world remain as fresh as yesterday. He admits his persecution changed his view of the world forever, and he accepts he is a very, very angry man. He demands freedom now.
Mr Ryton Dzimiri, a Zim Diapora vocal and consistent contributor this week decided to tell his story of torture, survival and escape. In his breathtaking story, Mr Dzimiri says he survived the ruthless jaws of the 5th Brigade, simply because of his Shona name. Mr Dzimiri's revelation is testimony to President Mugabe’s vampiric behaviour which has caused a lot of suffering and anger, moreso brought down Africa’s once most organised economy. Mr Dzimiri is now based in South Wales, Swansea where he lives with his wife Tanale and the couple's 9 months old daughter.
Mr Ryton Dzimiri, his wife Tanale and 9-months -old daughter, Temaswati
By Ryton Dzimiri
I was born in a small farm owned by my father in Selukwe, 1969. I grew up fearing the racist government of Ian Smith which segregated people of my skin colour.
In the early days of my childhood, I had come to admire, through my parents freedom fighters, particularly ZANLA forces, ZANU-PF's military wing.
I looked up to ZANLA forces to liberate us from the racist Rhodesian government, but little did I know that ZANU-PF would turn out to be worse than the Rhodesian Front, a political party led by the then Prime Minister, Ian Smith.
At a tender age of 9, it dawned to me one day - when I witnessed ZANLA forces callously killing innocent civilians in my neighbourhood. This was in 1977 during the height of the Rhodesian war. The victims, innocent civilians were accused of allegedly being sell-outs, that is, conniving with Ian Smith's agents.
ZANLA forces would often stage public killings as a means of intimidating people from associating either with ZAPU or Rhodesia Front, a thing which was never heard from the ZIPRA camp.
In a stretch of a six kilometre road where I was born, from 1977 to 1978, six neighbours were killed in a brutal manner by ZANLA guerrillas. Such news was never reported. If ever reported, such news would reach the outside world as having been killed by the Rhodesia Front (RF).
In Fact, I witnessed the murder of one of my neighbours, a chilling incident which still haunts me up to this day. I saw them tie my neighbour’s hands to a tree, and then they went on to burn him with plastic while I watched in horror. The victim would start-off pleading for mercy, and then let the pain take its full course. They would just die away as the perpetrator enjoys their victims' pain. I saw this ZANLA barbarism with the evidence of my own eyes.
I saw them strike my neighbour's backbone with an axe. They seemed to be enjoying his agony as they took several hours torturing him up to his last breadth. They eventually used a bayonet to cut-off his throat. This incident remains in my mind and is refusing to do away. At times I wake up in the middle of the night screaming, seeing in my dreams, this person screaming for mercy as though he is being re-murdered. My wife is my witness. I need professional help. I am scared of Mugabe. I am scared of ZANLA. I am scared of Gukurahundi.
One sad incident was when locals were force-marched into a ZANLA base in a nearby mountain. Villagers were forced to sing and dance the whole night while the guerrillas took turns to rape their teenage daughters. Many young girls fell pregnant. Its a wartime story that has not been told yet. But telling such a story is treasonous in Zimbabwe today. For that reason, I will never return to Zimbabwe as long as ZANU-PF is in power. The United Kingdom is my home.
ZANLA forces were supported by the povo, not because people wanted to support them, but because if they didn't, they would be killed. Henceforth, this ZANLA kind of intimidation translated into the public domain during and after the 1980 elections. All the support the world saw in Mugabe's camp during the historic 1980 elections was a result of fear and not free will. It is Mugabe's belief in violence that the 5th Brigade, infamously known as Gukurahundi was created. The 5 brigade was created to perpetuate Mugabe's wartime blood-thirsty. And they did just that. Up to 20 000 Ndebele speaking peoples of the Zulu origin were callously butchered. The sad thing is that Zimbabwean historians seem to be unaware of this sad episode of our history. What kind of history are we going to pass-over to our grandchildren. Will it be censored history or selective history?
Just before independence, my family and I moved to Zhombe which was a ZIPRA domain. ZIPRA was ZAPU’s military wing led by the late Joshua Nkomo. Most members of ZIPRA forces were Russian trained and very conventional and disciplined cadres. There was a world of difference between ZIPRA and ZANLA. In fact ZANLA behaved exactly like Border Gezi's green bombers.
Having spent time under the ZANU-PF stronghold, moving to Zhombe where there were predominantly members of the ZIPRA forces meant that I should adjust my war-time conduct. I had to adjust because ZIPRA men seemed to be sufficiently trained and very disciplined indeed. There was no politics of fear and intimidation. We had a freedom of expression, and we could disagree with members of the ZIPRA forces without fear of being killed, a thing which was treasonous in the ZANLA camp.
Years later, after the independence of Zimbabwe, in 1983, I was caught up again in a life-threatening situation which probably defined my present destiny.
Following the disturbances in which demobilised members of the ZIPRA forces were victimised by Mugabe’s regime, less than 50 of them ran away and returned to the bush where they resorted to their guerrilla-days lifestyle. These guys were never co-ordinated by any of their ex-commanders. They were just disgruntled former fighters without any resources to age any meaningful war at all. But sadly this played to Mugabe's gruesome propaganda in which he brainwashed to the Zimbabwean population by saying Ndebeles were rebelling hence they needed discipline. To be honest, as a Shona who was in Matabeleland by then, dissidents had nothing do with Ndebele rebellion, but had something to do with Mugabe's victimisation of Ndebele members of the National Army.
To put it correctly, if the entire ZIPRA army had rebelled in 1980, Mugabe would not have become President of Zimbabwe because ZANLA was no match to ZIPRA forces. ZIPRA could have been unstoppable, they could have easily marched into the State house in Harare without any hindrance at all. The late Ian Smith would agree with me even in his grave.
Admittedly though, there was a former Zipra cadre, infamously known as Richard Gwesela who also had deserted the army after relentless abuses for simply being a former member of the Zipra forces.
Gwesela operated around my Zhombe homestead in 1983. Gwesela used to visit my family during the night and ask for some food.
He had trusted my family because my step-brother was a close relative of his.
Trained in the former Soviet Union, Russia, Gwesela knew how to manoeuvre his way without being caught and the failure of Mugabe’s National Army to deal with this single notorious dissident is testimony to his highly trained survival skills.
The trick was that as my family, the Dzimiris were known as Shona, when the Gukurahundi came they did not bother us as they did not suspect that a Shona family could inhabit a “Ndebele” dissident.
On one fateful day, a neighbour saw me giving Gwesela a bowl of food and drink. He did the worst when he went and reported me straight to the Gukurahundi men who were operating in the area.
The next thing, we found ourselves surrounded by the men in camouflage and red berets. This was at about midnight. I would never forget this day. We were beaten for hours, tortured the whole night. They would use the barrel of their guns to hit us. They would use logs and everything they could lay their hands on. We were ordered to undress so that we were “properly” beaten. It was painful, I hated living, I wanted to die.
The only reason why we were not murdered on that fateful day is because of my Shona name, DZIMIRI. Thanks for that. But I know a lot of my fellow Ndebele friends whose names were unchangeable, died just like that. No wonder why the Catholic report, Breaking The Silence says up to 20 000 Ndebeles were ruthlessly murdered that way. It may sound like fiction, or history when its being told now, but ladies and gentlemen, people died for having Ndebele surnames. The 5th Brigade was specifically created for that, and they did just that. Is this not prosecutable?
There was a stage when we were instructed to line up in a straight line so that one bullet is used to kill all of us. When one of the members of the Gukurahundi pointed an AK 47 at us ready to pull the trigger, the commander said: “stop it”, I am still not convinced that a Shona family from Shurugwi would support dissidents in Zhombe”.
“Leave them, don’t kill them ok?,” the commander said. I could see some disappointment in the eyes of the young and itchy officer who really wanted to eliminate myself and my entire family.
As though such a method of torture was not enough, the Gukurahundi visited us up to 12 times and in each occasion we were tortured. This was after they picked up information that Gwesela was in fact a family relative. All the same, we stood firm and denied any knowledge of any existing relationship with the dissident.
In this entire episode, up to this day, I bear scars of assault, I have scratches in my back. Up to this day my back is so horrible, I hate seeing myself like this.
On one hand, we knew where Gwesela was, and I suspect the Gukurahundi themselves also knew where he was. Again, we could not just sell him out like that because we were at risk that if Gukurahundi did not catch him, he would definitely kill us.
The family then made a decision to secretly slip out of Zhombe. We moved to Nkayi early in 1984.
It was at this point that I wrote a letter to my mother who lived in Bulawayo detailing how I had saved the family by denying ever supplying a dissident with food. For some strange reason, the letter was intercepted by President Mugabe’s spy agency, the CIOs. My mother never got that letter. How this happened, I don’t know up to this day.
It was one Saturday morning in 1984 that I got a message that there were men in dark glasses who were looking for me at our homestead. I had gone out with friends in rural Nkayi.
These men in dark glasses were hostile to my family and in search of me. The mistake they made was to show my family the letter I had written to my mum but never explained how it was diverted into their hands.
At this point that, upon getting the news of these men in dark glasses looking for me, I left my Nkayi village for Gweru where I later did my secondary school. I never at any one point returned to Nkayi as I continued getting messages of the CIOs hunting for me.
When I enrolled for high school in Gweru town, I had to change my name in order to live a normal life. I was 14 then.
After finishing my O’ levels, I opted to join my mother in Bulawayo.
I started a photographic business in Bulawayo to try and eke out a living. While on business, I was caught by a police officer at the Bulawayo Centenary Park and was told that I had a pending case from 1983 relating to aiding and abetting dissidents.
I was locked up at the Bulawayo Central police station before being transferred to Rio Tinto police station in Zhombe. I was beaten and dragged around in a British-made Santana police truck with my legs tied on the tow-bar.
I passed out twice, and was then taken back to Bulawayo police cells. It was at this point that an honourable police officer got some information that there was a plot to murder me in a police cell and then tie my neck in order to claim that I had committed suicide. This officer assisted me with the prison escape. I have never seen him ever since, I am not sure whether he was arrested or killed for aiding me to escape.
On the same day, I skipped the Beitbridge border post into neighbouring South Africa. There, despite Apartheid I was a free man again, no longer hunted like a wild animal.
I looked back in anger and pinched myself, and said, “I am alive because of my Shona name”.
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- The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. ZimDiaspora is not responsible for what they say. Please keep your comments short and sweet. Obscene, tribalistic, racist, vulgar comments will be deleted.
written by kudwkwashe, January 25, 2010
written by thabani hove, January 13, 2010
written by Thamsaqa ka Ncube, November 27, 2009
written by tafirenyika, November 13, 2009
written by Gurukota, November 02, 2009
written by Nswabanda, October 30, 2009
I did not retract my stance No! I just pointed out that his story points to the fact that we have a common enemy. Listen, to be honest, that story has quiet some tall tales! I wouldnt want to descredit it, because I tough because of his poor command of English, I might annoy him. I gave him benefit of doubt!
I have never condoned the Gukurahundi attrocities! All I have done is put sense to those who have pea-sized brains, who think with emotions rather than reason!
written by Sithembiso Mbele, October 29, 2009
Expirience is the best teacher, it humbles one who laughs loud and mocks victims of genocide.
Maidei should guarantee that the tears of the Ndebele people will not be turned to her own family by the maker of the Ndebele people.
Dzimiris harsh critic Nswabanda retracted his stance on this issue after realising that human blood can speak
written by Bulawayo, October 29, 2009
written by Tafadzwa, October 29, 2009
written by Maidei, October 29, 2009
written by Sithembiso Mbele, October 29, 2009
written by Chando Kupisa, October 29, 2009
2) Who witnessed that only those with a ndebele surname were killed?
written by KaMatshana, October 28, 2009
I respect your boldness, keep telling it like it is.
One day I hope Zimbabwe will have a tolerant leader who will observe the dark episode that befell Matebeleland.
written by Stina, October 28, 2009
written by Nkunzi, South Africa, October 28, 2009
written by ndiweni, bulawayo, October 28, 2009
written by ndiweni, bulawayo, October 28, 2009
written by Nkunzi, South Africa, October 28, 2009
written by Chando Kupisa, October 28, 2009
written by Nkunzi, South Africa, October 28, 2009
I also left the country after the same experiences, and since have not returned. Mfowethu mkhulu umsebenzi lo.
written by Gerald Ngulube, October 28, 2009
written by samkange, October 28, 2009
written by Sibongile, Brazil, October 28, 2009
Thanks very much for telling this story. Its only those who were part of perpetrators who will disagree with you. To me, I saw it exactly the way you are telling bhuti. Up to this day, I am still angry. God knows!
written by Thembi, Canada, October 28, 2009
I am really sorry of what happened to you. In fact I am more than pleased by your boldness to tell this story as it is. In fact I am Ndebele myself, I saw my mother and father being stabbed to death my Gukurahundi in in Lupane home. I was 7 years old then. But this memory kept on bothering me in my dreams. I prayed to God and sort some professional counselling. I am today a happy woman. I am married, but one thing I cant avoid is telling my children the truth each time when they ask me what happened to their gogo and khulu. Pray Ryton, God bless
written by Shine, October 28, 2009
Sorry mate for what happened to you but let’s focus on the present and the future. I am born to a Ndebele mother and Shona father. Back in the days it was not acceptable, it’s not what we experienced as children that is important but it’s the lesson that is important. If I had decided to concentrate on the experience I was going to be a bitter and grumpy old man. I would have loved it if you preached the lesson that you learned out of it and move on. We can’t afford to reverse the gains that we have achieved as nation by preaching our negative experiences. Zimbabweans have naturally closed the gap of exclusion and there is empirical evidence to prove that. Please let’s not play this old tune again. Honestly in this day and age our children need to reading stories which will make them grow in love. We are responsible for building our nation and if we are not careful we will destroy it for little gains.
written by Nswabanda, October 28, 2009
Lobengula wathengisa ilizwe ngenkomitsho ye Brown sugar! Lol! Thats the funniest story I have heard! You made my day
written by Nswabanda, October 28, 2009
MDC has nothing to appease for! If you call what Holland said reason for national healing then you really dont know what you want. Don't be myopic! Why concentrate on that issue? Its the truth anywhere, but it is not the reason Zimbabwe reaquires national healing. We are talking of attrocities commited by ZANU, Gukurahundi, Murambatsvina, election violence!
Its people like you who derail and destabilise our movement to freedom. You concentrate on trivial stuff and conveniently forget the real issue at hand. I would like to believe that you either are a Zanu pf activist or a CIO.
written by Dhlodhlo, October 28, 2009
written by Nswabanda, October 28, 2009
written by Nswabanda, October 28, 2009
What MDC went into was to try and ease the situation a bit! Yes, they gave in a lot but they had people's suffering at heart! Imagine families going for days without food, walking 40km to and from work everyday and being denied the chance to withdraw the meagre salaries, which were useless anywhere!
I do not blame MDC at all for what they did. Zanu does not play a conventional game, in the same vein MDC cannot be equally heartless! What ZAPU should do is to support the weakening of MDC then we can fight in elections that a properly conducted! If we start bickering amongst ourselves now, we only serve to strengthen Zanu!
ZAPU should not even concentrate on MDC at the moment. Lets fight our common enemy! hope Mr Dzimiri you agree with me.
PS. You have a lovely family and you are my age mate as well. May God bless you!
written by Mlungisi, USA, October 28, 2009
Sorry for what you went through mfowethu. It is sad that even in this forum there are some remnants of the Mugabe regime who will still say your experiences are fiction. These people should be invited to come to Gwanda, Tsholotsho, Nkayi, Lupane, then they will agree with your story. I have no doubt about your experiences because I also have a first hand experience which is almost simillar to yours.
written by mokoena, October 28, 2009
written by Tichawona, October 28, 2009
written by Mweni Tafara, October 27, 2009
You have a lovely family.
I am sorry for what happened to you and your family during childhood. It should never have happened that way because thina bantu beAfrica are family, thats my philosophy and we dont need to fight each other for whatever reason. What we need is impecable unity so that with our rich continent the sky becomes our limit.
written by Rudo, October 27, 2009
written by Tichaona, October 27, 2009
Ryton my Brother sory for what you went through, you will be a credible witness at hugue, you are a piece of evidence that must be preserved at all cost. God Bless you
written by JAIROS SEKE, October 27, 2009
written by Mokoena, October 27, 2009
Ryton my brother, movies and documentaries should made so that these things are recorded. Monuments should be built. One thing fo sure Ryton I will tell you not to paint all Shonas with the same brush. I will tell one thing, it was a shona guy who was part of the brigade that blew the whistle on the events and told it to the catholic priests. At the same time it was a Shona guy who has now turned 'saviour who refused to publish stories. Ironically he has also won an award. I think his name is Nyarota who wrote the book 'against the grain' if my memory serves me well. Human beings are God's creation no one has a right to do what Mugabe did. i have an in-law, he is Shona though, he gives chilling accounts of what he saw in the ZANLA camps and I wonder why they are keeping quite about it. I was 4 in 1983 and I remember every bit of what happened. Chilling accounts. My father was killed and I remember the day vividly, my acount I have told to my grandmother who was also available and was really suprised at me intelligence. Tell you what it is not inteligence but the trauma that came with it. I sometimes cry trying to live and cope with it. My sister was two and brother one. I sometimes see it in their eyes that they want to know. I try hard to tell them but I cannot. Its painful. My mother was in her late twenties then. She worked hard and we all have gone through University. Through God's grace we have attended the most prestigious Univesities in the world. We have not forked out a cent. My brother(last born) who is still doing his masters has also felt the brunt of Gkurahundi because Gukurahundi is present today.
1) He passed his A' Level commercials with 13 points and was given perfoming arts, he finished though and started a better course with a new univesity abroad. He is not the only one
2) People from Matebeleland dont kind any kind of jobs all public office jobs are held by people from other parts
3) Children at schools are taught their language by someone who cannot even speak it
4) Roads are never built, in fact infrastructure and Bulawayo is now the fourth largest city if truth be said
5) 1995 Zintec college 90% the 500 students enrolled were from the vice-president's office(Muzenda)
6) There are many more cases e.g. Tswangirayi's selection of cabinet. if you dont undestand wait for the next election result in the Midlands and Matebeleland you wont be shocked by the MDC results because I have prepared you for that.
7) Selection of national football teams(e.g. in the past when SA was full of players from Midlands and Matland the league was said to be bad, there was a sudden change when players from particularly Harare became the majority. The SA league became the best in Africa and the first eleven in the squad were from there) when overseas players are selected it is obvious where the last six will come from. I imagine if Moses Chung had played for Coventry, Birmingham, Sheffield etc yes you guesse it he would have been the best player in the last 100 and next 200years. Its a lot. Thamsanqa Dube is the Pan-Africa heavyweight champion. But I dont think this name rings a bell to anyone.
Georg Sibanda is the first musical internatiol star from Rhodesia. In fact is the father of Maskandi. Th Beatles and many other singers have used his songs. Why dont you learn about him. A lot of women started the struggle in the 1920s. Benjamin Burombos, Masotsha Ndlovu all participated why dont you kow about them. Yes its gukurahundi, Gukurahundi's aim was to make Mugabe god. The beginning and end of zimbabwean and african History. Comments by Sekai Holland are what she was taught by Mugabe because in his phony creation of history he taught his children that Lobengula traded the country for sugar yet thousands of books have written on Lobenga's intelligence and how he had Zimbabwe/Matebeleland to be the last country to be colonised. Gukurahundi umuntu ngokaNkulunkulu and one who laughs last laughs longest.
Gukurahundi has left a lot of people in Matebele land in shock because no one ever thought that another human being could do that to another and follow up with silent and adminstrative atrocities.
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