THE late unsung Zapu liberation war hero, James Chauke, who died in South Africa last week after being hospitalised for diabetes, was laid to rest at the Lady Stanely Cemetery in Bulawayo on Saturday
He was 71.
Zapu chairperson John Dlamini described Chauke, who was known as Dickson Luphahla during the struggle, as an unsung hero who was a disciplined soldier.
“Today, we are here not by choice, but determined to honour our unsung hero in a measured and dignified revolutionary way,” Dlamini said.
“The cadre, whom we are laying to rest today, was a revolutionary, committed to see a prosperous Zimbabwe which is now controlled by a few elite at the expense of the majority who bore the burden of liberating this country.”
He said Chauke fled to South Africa, leaving behind his wife and children not by choice, but due to a hostile political environment and economic decline.
“Chauke, a gallant son of the soil, disciplined soldier, joined the liberation struggle during the detente period,” Dlamini said.
“He survived the tragic incident at Mgagao in 1976, where 48 unarmed Zipra cadres were brutally attacked and killed.
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“He bore the trauma with quiet strength and unwavering commitment to the liberation of Zimbabwe.”
Dlamini thanked Bulawayo City Council for providing a grave for Chauke’s burial at the Lady Stanley Cemetery.
One of the speakers said when they were fighting during the war, they did not know that after the independence, there would be places designated for heroes, adding that their objective was for equal opportunity for everyone in the country.
He said Chauke died a refugee in South Africa, but they were happy that he was allowed to enter the border after his death.
“He ran away from this country when his life was in danger after threats from the responsible authorities soon after independence,” the speaker said.
“Those who are saying they are war veterans, but have deserted their party Zapu, we feel sorry for them.
“We say shame on those who desert their mother (Zapu) because she is now crippled, forgetting that she is the one who made them what they are today.”
Zapu Bulawayo provincial chairperson Thembinkosi Thwala said war veterans did not go to war so that people would be poor.
“We have not yet achieved the objectives of the liberation struggle,” Twala said.
“Rhodesia was better than this, you have tried all parties, to no avail, let’s all go back to our mother party Zapu.”
