Thread by @RozviState

Today lets see who is behind one of the most inspiring Chimurenga songs Nzira Dzemasoja.
Cde Paul Chigango at the centre, whose Chimurenga name is Cde Sando Muponda composed and first sang the song at Mgagao Base Camp in Tanzania in 1974. He was just 17.

They had just finished an orientation session on Chairman Mao Tse Tung’s Red Book, which became the guiding principle during the liberation struggle. He wrote the song based on Chairman Mao’s military doctrine
‘Three Rules of Discipline and Eight Points of Attention'.

Coming from a background of being an active member of the Johanne Marange where he strongly participated in composing songs and singing them as he attended a Seventh Day Adventist school, Kadohwata Primary School, CDE Sando Muponda naturally was a good music composer.

He composed the song, Kune Nzira DzeMasoja using Cde Mao’s Eight Points of Attention and fused the words with the melody of the Seventh Day Adventist Hymn 125. This was not the only song he composed.

He immediately joined the entertainment group soon after his arrival in Zambia for training together with more than 15 other extended family members who had crossed into Mozambique to join the liberation struggle from Dotito in Mt Darwin at the end of 1973.

He also composed the words on Sendekera Mukoma Chakanyuka that also became popular during and after the struggle and Rimwe Zuva Zvangu, among others. He sang with Cde Johnny Walker Mukorekore who died in a battle and Cde Murehwa who played mbira but died after independence.

Unlike most comrades who left for the struggle under cover, he bade farewell to his parents before crossing into Mozambique and a beast was actually slaughtered with all the traditional rites being performed before he left.

It was at the Lusaka Farm that I was incorporated in the Recreational group and I started composing Chimurenga songs, recalled CDE Chigango. Cde Robson Manyika was camp commander at Iringa. At Mgagao, the commanders were Cdes Rex Nhongo, Joseph Khumalo and Dzinashe Machingura.

Cdes Dominic Chinenge now VP Chiwenga, Perrence Shiri, Augustine Chihuri, Modern Mutsetse, Aginyu Kambewu (General Chimombe), who raised Zimbabwe’s flag on April 18, 1980 independence, Grey Tichatonga, Pfepferere, Parker Chipoyera and George Rutanhire were some of instructors.

He led my entertainment group named Chaminuka Entertainment Group. Cde Tambaoga was also in my group. Entertainment groups provided entertainment to the weary cadres and boost morale.

They also sang jiti music and in 1975 he was sent to Chimoio and continued with his entertainment role, soon after General Nhongo went to the front in the Gaza Province, he was deployed to Nyadzonia as detachment political commissar and also served at Chibawawa and Torongo.

They would make banjos with Cde Ketai Muchawaya and other members of the entertainment groups through which they would provide the much needed morale in the camps. They also recorded some of their music in Maputo.