Well-known and highly rated Limpopo freedom fighter, ANC and MK veteran Mbulaheni David Malada (66) of Makonde village will finally be honoured by his own people.
Widely known by his combat name, Peter Dambuza, Malada will receive high honour from the newly established Friends of Peter Dambuza Foundation (FPDF) and the ANC during a political lecture and birthday celebration to celebrate his life and contribution to the freedom of the South African people during the dark days of apartheid.
Details of the much-awaited activities were announced during the first meeting of the FPDF, which took place at Masili Guest House and Conference Centre, Sibasa on Sunday.
According to Dr Mashudu Silimela, one of the organizers of the meeting, a political lecture about the life and contributions of Malada will be held at a venue around Thohoyandou on the evening of Friday, 23 August. "We will work closely with the ANC, all alliance partners, community stakeholders, interested community members and the Peter Dambuza Foundation to organize the lecture. Political experts and veterans who are close to Mr Malada will be invited to talk about him during the lecture. After the lecture, we will have a big birthday celebration at his home village of Makonde the next day. We will also use these activities to launch his book, So then the guns started roaring, which details his life experiences in the battlefield until he came back home."
Silimela said it was sad to note that most of the freedom fighters were acknowledged while they were no longer alive. "We have not only identified Mr Malada as a veteran whose life should be celebrated. This is just a starting point because we have many veterans who will be recognized in close cooperation with the ANC and all our partners. Freedom fighters should be able to tell us their stories while they are still alive. They need people to share their experiences with and they also need our recognition for their contributions."
Malada, who received his military training in Mozambique, Tanzania, Angola, Cuba, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe, was very happy about the initiative to celebrate his life. He spent more than 20 years on the battlefield before he came back home after 1994. As a freedom fighter, he took part in battles such as Nova Katenge in 1977, the SADF Matola raid in Maputo in 1981, Sibasa Operation in 1981, Kruger National Park battle in 1981, Kangwane battle in 1981, Ngwavuma operation in 1981, Masingiri operation in 1986 and the Tshipise battle in August 1983.
He said that nothing was more fulfilling "than being honoured by your own people when you are still alive. I wish this could be done to all freedom fighters, because I didn't go to the battlefield alone. I am happy that my contribution to freedom will finally be recognized, although it is very sad that some of my colleagues lost their lives on the battlefield."
During the meeting, a task team to facilitate the political lecture and Malada's birthday celebration was established. The committee comprises Floyd Tshivhase (convener), Rendani Thanyani (coordinator), Pfanelo Phuluwa and Dr Mashudu Silimela (fundraising team).
The ANC and all alliance partners will form part of the organizing committee. Participation is also open to the public and those who would like to contribute, either by mobilizing resources or helping with ideas, can call the convener, Floyd Tshivhase, on 076 102 9100.