Fearless in spirit, a passionate leader, always ready to meet and talk frankly with anyone, to whatever race, party or camp they might belong – this describes this man of the cloth, Rev Arthur Kanodereka, a nationally-known politician, a husband to his wife, Gladys, of 20 years, father of their six children and a senior minister of the Methodist Church.
During the 'bush war' between the freedom fighters and the white Security Forces leading up to an independent Zimbabwe, Kanodereka actively recruited young 'guerilla' fighters. He suffered with his people. Three times he was arrested, tortured and interrogated, in fruitless efforts to make him talk. He said, "I became a black nationalist who hated whites like hell.”
Kanodereka was invited to an occasion where a fair-haired man was chairing the meeting. The young man began by giving his name, "Alec Smith" (above right). Kanodereka sat up. This was the son of the Prime Minister, Ian Smith, who embodied all he hated. "I have come to realise," Alec said, "that I bear a personal responsibility for my country’s dilemma. It was me, Alec Smith, who was answerable, because my selfish lifestyle and insensitive attitudes drove those boys into the bush......... For my part, I am deeply sorry for the selfishness of my past life."
Here was something Kanodereka had never heard before. He was thunderstruck. “I picked up a vision of what could happen. I saw Christ, the suffering Christ, not just for blacks or just for whites, but for all people."
He realized that the hatred he had towards the white people had spilled over on to his family. “You cannot have hatred in one pot and not transfer it to the other pot,” he said.
Kanodereka fought a battle between the bridge-builders and the bridge-wreckers. His outspokenness won him a world-wide range of friends who respected and loved him; but it also won him enemies. Their hatred of him and of all he stood for drove them to arrange his murder in December 1978.
