Online Reporter
Zimpapers Politics Hub
THE remains of 64 liberation war fighters — 55 from ZIPRA and nine from ZANLA — will be buried at the Grand Parade shrine in Hurungwe ahead of the Heroes Day commemorations on August 11, the Fallen Heroes Trust of Zimbabwe (FHTZ) has announced.
This will be in fulfilment of the fallen comrades’ long-standing wish to be laid to rest together.
The Grand Parade is a two-hectare shrine at Grand Parade Farm in Hurungwe designated for the burial of the remains of the exhumed cadres.
FHTZ chairperson Dr Arthur Makanda gave the latest update following exhumations at the historic Sanyati Rest Camp a fortnight ago.
“We identified 15 more comrades at Sanyati, both ZANLA and ZIPRA, who were bombed at Sanyati Bridge. We are returning to continue the process,” said Dr Makanda.
The identification of the fallen fighters at Sanyati marks a significant step in the second round of exhumations being conducted nationwide.
Before returning to Sanyati, the trust will first carry out exhumations of the remains of five more cadres in Hurungwe, followed by those of 18 in Masvingo and one in Rusape.
“We are looking at fighters who fell during the liberation struggle, and we are not going to be selective in terms of who we are going to bury,” Dr Makanda added.
The ongoing programme is part of a broader national initiative to honour liberation war heroes who were previously buried in unmarked or shallow graves.
The first phase of the exhumation process saw the successful reburial of two ZIPRA combatants at the Grand Parade, setting the stage for the upcoming joint reburial of all 64 identified fighters.
The trust’s efforts seek to bring dignity and closure to the families and communities of the fallen heroes.
Sanyati, Hurungwe, Masvingo and Rusape are among many sites where mass graves of freedom fighters have been discovered. The Grand Parade shrine, envisioned as a unifying final resting place, is symbolic of the unity and shared sacrifice of Zimbabwe’s liberation war heroes.
Online Reporter