Ex-ZPRA Intelligence Officer Discusses Gukurahundi, Court Martial, and Life Post-Independence

Part One: Zenzele Ndebele sits down with Don Nyelani, a former ZPRA liberation fighter and member of the National Security Organisation. After Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980, Nyelani joined the Zimbabwe National Army and served in the Zimbabwe Intelligence Corps during the Gukurahundi era—a period marked by political violence in Matabeleland and the Midlands. In this candid and powerful interview, Don Nyelani opens up about his experiences within the military, his role during the Gukurahundi operations, and the events that led to his court-martial. He reflects on the transition from liberation war to state security and the challenges faced by ex-combatants in post-independence Zimbabwe.