MK-ZIPRA Cooperation – For MK Infiltration through Matabeleland
On 15 September 1978, five combatants of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) arrived at the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) residence in Francistown, Botswana, having hitch-hiked their way from Zambia. They included Thomas “Victor” Hlabane (aka “Buti Bucks”), Leslie Dube, Mzomdala Mdladla, Mabala Mehlomakhulu and Selathiel Sethlapelo, and were all in possession of Zambian identity documents indicating that they were Rhodesian nationals.
While they were at the ZAPU house, an ANC official called “Thabo” (real name Victor Modise) visited them in the company of another person. Thabo then advised the ZAPU representatives that “Victor” and his comrades were to join the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) military group in the Tuli area. The intention was to resume their mission to infiltrate South Africa in the Beitbridge area, which was terminated following the ambush of the joint MK/ZIPRA Unit in January 1978.
On 22 January 1978, at a fence demarcating the boundary of a kraal in the Dibilishaba Tribal Trust Lands in Gwanda, which was in Matabeleland, Rhodesia, a ZIPRA Unit was ambushed by Rhodesian Security Forces. The Unit included MK combatants, Thomas “Victor” Hlabane and Danger Ncube, who were attached to the ZIPRA call-sign. During the course of the ambush, Danger Ncube was killed, as well as Base Ncube, who was the Commander of ZIPRA in the region. “Victor” Hlabane mana
