Tanzania has arguably one
of the best armies in Africa. Few have risen to the highest ranks of this
mighty army. Since the nation gained its independence in 1961, countless
soldiers have fought and paid the ultimate price to win freedom and
independence for Tanzania and other African countries. Many legendary soldiers
have perished silently in what is one of the most secretive armies in Africa.
But this need not be; freedom is not free. The young people will take the
freedom they enjoy for granted unless they are given an opportunity to learn
about some of the nation's heroes. The late Major General John Butler Walden
aka the “Black Mamba”, provides us with an example of a brilliant soldier who
gave his all to the nation and served it with distinction. His story tells us something
about perseverance, sacrifice, patriotism, and excellence.
John Butler Walden was
born on December 12, 1939 in Tunduru, southern Tanzania. His father, Stanley
Arthur Walden, was a British colonial district commissioner. His mother Violet
Nambela was the daughter of Andrew Sinkala, an official at the Game Department
at Tunduru. Stanley met and fell in love with Violet. John was born at a time
when relationships between Europeans and Africans was shunned upon. Thus it is
not surprising that John and his maternal grandmother eventually moved to Mbeya
in 1941.
Stanley Walden was
transferred to Njombe, Iringa in 1942. John followed his father to Njombe
shortly afterwards. He was registered at Tosamaganga, Iringa in 1945.
Tosamaganga was a boarding school that enrolled many of the children born to
white and black parents. John’s younger brother, Paul Walden, also joined
Tosamaganga. The teachers, some of whom were Sisters of a church order, took a
liking to John and his brother. John and his brother did not get many
opportunities to communicate with their father while at the school. John Walden
had limited contact with his mother while at the school simply because she was
an African woman. John completed elementary school at Tosamaganga in 1952 and
proceeded with primary education at the same school. He finished standard ten
at Tosamaganga in 1956. The experience at Tosamaganga shaped the character of
the young John. He learned to be tough and independent.
The King’s African Rifles
(KAR) advertised for recruits in 1957. Walden came across the advertisement and
immediately decided he would apply. He was a young man and wanted adventure; he
initially wanted to join the navy and travel around the world. However, he
eventually settled for the army. 1957 marked the beginning of John Walden’s
military carrier.
Walden showed up at Colito
Barracks in 1957 and enlisted with KAR. His first assignment was performing
clerical work. Walden started military training six months later. He finished
training in February of 1958 and was assigned to A Company of the KAR. Walden
performed his duties with distinction and was promoted to Lance Corporal within
two months. The army needed soldiers with specialized training; Walden was sent
to Nakuru to take a course on storekeeping. He was promoted to full Corporal
after returning from training. The demands for trained soldiers were very high
at the time. Some soldiers were assigned multiple duties. In addition to
storekeeping duties, Walden often performed clerical work and worked as an
interpreter.
Colonial authorities
rotated KAR units to different territories. Walden and his unit were sent to
Mauritius in 1959. He was in the island when it was hit by a devastating
cyclone in 1960. Cyclone “Carol” was reported to have killed at least 42
people. Walden, then a Corporal in KAR, supervised the relief operation. It was
a valuable experience for the young soldier. The time in Mauritius gave Walden
an important experience in military/civilian relations and sharpened his
leadership skills. He returned to Tanganyika sometime in 1960.
The year 1960 marked a new
phase in Tanganyika’s history. Tanganyika won self-government in August 1960
and Julius Nyerere became the new Prime Minister. The army had to be
reorganized as the country approached independence on December 9, 1961.
Government of Tanganyika took two battalions that made KAR from the colonial
era and changed the name to Tanganyika Rifles just after independence.
Walden faced many
challenges in the army. There were some suspicions about his loyalty because
his father was white. The question of loyalty would creep in from time to time
during course of his carrier. Part of the early suspicions were due to the fact
that his father had been a British colonial official who was at times not supportive
of the struggle for independence. S.A. Walden was, for example, hostile towards
the UN mission when they visited Mwanza in 1957. The father’s attitude partly
became the source of suspicion towards John Walden. Nyerere spoke to Walden at
one point; he made no secret of his reservation about John’s loyalty. Nyerere
informed the young soldier that he would have to work hard to earn his position
in the new army. Walden was not discouraged. The young warrior gave his all in
every task placed on his hands. It was his exceptional intelligence, dedication
to his profession, and ultimately loyalty to his country that set him apart.
Tanganyika won
independence on December 9, 1961. This was a new beginning for the nation and
the army. Walden was promoted to Sergeant in 1962 and worked as a Quartermaster
Sergeant in the newly independent Tanganyika. He was always looking for ways to
sharpen his military skills. He took courses on weaponry. Walden had an
opportunity to attend the prestigious Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot,
UK sometime in 1962. He was at the school from the end of 1962 to April 1963.
Walden was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant upon his returned to Tanganyika. He was
promoted to platoon commander at Colito Barracks. President Nyerere presented regimental
colors to 2nd Lieutenant Walden and 2nd Lieutenant Elisha Kavana in June 1963.
Being selected to receive the colors from the President was a big honor. This
was recognition that John Walden was already an exceptional soldier.
Tanganyika Rifles was a
new army in 1963. Walden was among a handful of highly trained officers who
attended prestigious military academies in UK by mid-1963. Sarakikya, Kashmiri,
and Nkwera were among the Commissioned officers who attended the prestigious
Sandhurst. Others would join Sandhurst subsequent years, including Kombe and
Kiwelu. Walden was among small group of Commissioned officers who attended
Mons; others include, Mahiti, Marwa, and Mboma.
Walden served the army in
different capacities during the late 1960s. He was at one point head of the JKT
camp in Mafinga, Iringa. He was then a major in the army. Walden was one of the
armies’ best marksmen. Walden was known to hit a target accurately from a
distance using various weapons. In one instance in Mafinga, he aimed and shot
used cartridges placed at a distance without missing a single target. Few
soldiers in the Tanzanian army could surpass him in target shooting.
Walden served the nation
well during the period of the struggle for liberation in southern Africa. By the
end of 1970s, Tanzania People’s Defense Forces (TPDF) had fought in various
places, including Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Angola. Walden served in Mozambique
as a military attaché shortly after that nation won its independence. TPDF
gained valuable experience during period of intense liberation wars in southern
Africa. The skills gained would be put to use in 1978-1979 war between Tanzania
and Uganda.
Brigadier General
Tumainieli Kiwelu, a graduate of Mons, was given the task of preparing for war.
He reorganized the army. Brigadier General David Msuguri was promoted to Major
General and given the overall command of the operation. Brigadier General Silas
Mayunga took command of the 206th Brigade, Brigadier General Marwa commanded
the 208th and Brigadier General John Walden commanded the 207th.
TPDF pushed Ugandan
soldiers out of Tanzania. Walden was given the task of taking over Minziro
along a sugar plantation during the early operations. Walden, then Brigadier
General, led a battalion that was one of the first to enter Ugandan territory.
Walden and other military planners came up with a brilliant plan for taking the
important city of Masaka, Uganda. From Minziro, where Walden and his soldiers
camped, there were two roads to Masaka. The main road was too dangerous as
Ugandan forces were waiting with tanks. Another road was through a narrow
footpath and swamps on the edge of the lake. The enemy did not expect Tanzanian
soldiers to take this route. Uganda soldiers would be caught with their pants
down.
The 207th Brigade under
the command of Major General Walden spent three nights moving in snake and
crocodile infested swamps, with parts of their bodies under water. All the
soldiers painted their faces black and moved quietly towards enemy lines.
Walden was given the nick named “Black Mamba". He led his soldiers
fearlessly through crocodile and snake infested waters, shooting them with his
pistol when they got close to him.
The Ugandans fought hard
at Masaka. Idi Amin sent Lt. Col Abdu Kisuule to lead the fight against
Tanzanian soldiers at Masaka. About one thousand Libyan soldiers joined
Ugandans to defend Masaka. The Libyans were equipped with heavy guns. Walden
and his soldiers fought heroically and helped take over Masaka. Kisuule would
later say that their defeat at Masaka was final blow for the Ugandan army. He
stated that [Masaka] is were “we lost the war.” Walden played an important role
in the victory at Masaka, and hence, overall victory for Tanzania. Walden led
his soldiers by example and they learned to love and respect him.
The TPDF carried out
psychological warfare against Uganda forces. At one point Walden broadcasted on
the radio assessing the preparedness of the Cuban, Israelis, Americans, and
Mozambican soldiers; it was all made up. The whole broadcast was done with the
understanding that Ugandan soldiers monitoring radio waves would hear the
conversation. The ploy worked; Uganda soldiers were struck with fear at the
thought Cubans, Americans and Israelis fighting against them. Amin wrote to the
OAU and UN to complain about foreign interference in the conflict. Idi Amin’s
rush to judgment made him look like a fool in the international community while
broadcast caused Ugandan soldiers to be filled with fear. Walden’s
psychological operation worked, but it caused some consternation with the
political leadership.
Walden was among the few
commanders given the task of conquering Kampala, the capital city. The other
commander was Major General B.N. Msuya. The Tanzanian soldiers were under
strict orders not to destroy the city. Major General B.N. Msuya became the de
facto ruler of Uganda for at least three days at one point. Msuya was
eventually ordered to pull back and Walden was left to command the Tanzanian
forces. It is reported that Walden commanded a unit that attacked Iddi Amin’s
residency. Walden came out with a number of trophies belonging to Idi Amin,
including a silver Colt 45 pistol he found in Amin’s bedroom.
Nyerere stepped down in
1985 and Ali Hassan Mwinyi became the President of Tanzania. There were
questions about who would be appointed the new Army Commander when President
Mwinyi came to power. Mwinyi appointed General Ernest Mwita Kiaro and General
Tumainiel Kiwelu as the nation’s top soldiers. Some hoped that Walden would be
given the top position. After all, he was one of the most senior officers and
best qualified for the position. This was not to be. According to some sources,
Mwinyi called Walden to discuss the matter. He told Walden that he was the most
qualified, but could not give him the appointment. We many never learn exactly
what transpired and why Walden was passed for promotion.
Walden once again came to
the forefront of the public eyes in the end of the 1980s. He was given the task
of eliminating game poachers in 1989. The operation came at a crucial time when
poachers were wiping out elephants. Walden led an operation codenamed
“Operesheni Uhai.” Elephant population was estimated to be 350,000 at the time
of independence; it dropped to around 55,000 at the end of the 1980s.
It was not uncommon to see
Walden walking in the bush with his Colt 45 strapped to his waist during
Opereshini Uhai. The unit he commanded flushed out poachers and the elephant
population started increasing once again. It was one of the last military
operations for the proud warrior.
Major General John Walden
passed away on July 7, 2002. He was buried in Mbeya. Walden rose to the top of
the Tanzanian army. He was able to achieve what few have been able to do. It
was not always an easy journey. Yet he accomplished what few have been able to
do. He will be remembered for his bravery, brilliancy, and service to his
nation
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