Mbambo and Sam Dumaza Mpofu, were selected by Zapu leader Cde Joshua Nkomo to go for military training.
On April 4, 1964, while awaiting a retrial, Cde Mphoko left Zimbabwe as part of the group of six and received military training in the Soviet Union between May 1964 and February 1965.
In March 1965, he created the first military command structure, the Military Planning Committee to plan and direct the armed struggle.
He was one of the first seven commanders who were commissioned by the revolution and by the political leadership to recruit, train, and command Zimbabweans into a revolution for the liberation of Zimbabwe.
In 1967, he became a member of the Joint Military Command in charge of Logistics and Supply in the ANC/ZAPU Alliance. He commanded the Joint Military rehearsals for the Wankie operations at Dan Nang base, Luthuli Camp, which included South African freedom fighters Joe Modise and Chris Hani who was the Commander of the Detachment and others.
