Chronicle EditorChristopher Farai Charamba Features Writer
It is simple for one born free to take for granted their freedom and independence. Thirty-five years after the liberation struggle the sacrifices made by brave freedom fighters can easily be lost on the liberated generation. With history not among favoured subjects, the important tale of the war of liberation can soon
be lost on the coming generations. In an effort to combat such neglectful ignorance, the Children of Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (CZNLWVA) made a trip to Chimoio, Mozambique, to visit the shrine and mass graves that lie there to learn more about Zimbabwe’s history.
As an association comprising children of war veterans, on this their maiden tour as a national association with representatives from six of the country’s10 provinces, many of these individuals were following in their parents’ footsteps to where they were housed during the war.
“Our parents are war veterans and lived here in Chimoio during the liberation struggle. They were trained here and helped free the country from colonial rule. We have therefore made this trip to learn more about our country’s history and pay tribute to those that sacrificed their lives,” said the national chairperson of the association, Cde Innocent Mhlanga.
During the liberation struggle Chimoio was the location of the ZANLA forces headquarters and training camps housing over 20 000 people in 14 different camps.
On November 23, 1977 with help from spies and traitors, the Rhodesian forces bombed the camps killing some 6 000 men, women and children.
“We are here to see the mass graves of the comrades who died during the war. It is humbling to know that so many of these people died so that one day we could be free. Our parents could also have died here. We need to respect and honour the sacrifices these people made for us.
“This is our first time here as the national organisation for children of war veterans and to see these graves and listen to the history of Chimoio is chilling. Sometimes we forget that there was a struggle for the freedom we have today,” Cde Mhlanga went on to say.
Among the near 400 members of the Zanu-PF affiliate association were individuals whose parents survived the 1977 Chimoio bombing. Most grew up hearing about the camp but had never seen the place with their own eyes.
Twenty-six year-old Rangai Manzero is the son of a war veteran who survived two bombings, the first one at Nyandzonia and the second at Chimoio. He was transferred to Percy Ntini base which housed injured comrades who needed rehabilitation.
“My father was injured badly during the Nyadzonia raid and then transferred to Percy Ntini for rehabilitation. That was where he was when Chimoio was bombed but he made it out alive. This was the second raid he survived and only suffered an injury to the leg.
“Some of his comrades were not as fortunate. I am told the whole place was destroyed and as the Rhodesian forces where bombing from the sky there were ground forces sent in to eliminate anyone who survived.
“My father does not talk a lot about the war but I do know some things. Making this trip to Chimoio was important because I wanted to know more about the history of our country and specifically what my father experienced and went through,” Manzero said.
The Chimoio shrines are special not only because of the mass graves but the area is also said to be sacred with various inexplicable events taking place over the years to attest to this.
“We have been told that this area is sacred and that it must be respected and given the right level of reverence so as not to anger the spirits of the fallen comrades resting here,” explains Esirina Mupfudze, a member of the CZNLWVA
“As a child of a war veteran I feel special being here. We are blood of the struggle and so this place is extremely important to me. Our parents made sacrifices for our freedom and coming here has given me a glimpse into what they experienced.
“We came here with the intention of it being a day visit but we have had to spend the night and we had no provisions for shelter or food. Clearly the spirits of those here at Chimoio wanted us to experience some of the conditions our parents went through.
“I believe this is what they mean when they say it is a sacred place. Circumstances beyond our control led us to stay here one night and despite being hungry and tired we had to soldier on through the night. I can only imagine what it must have been like for those that lived like this day in and day out,” she added.
Freeman Asima, the 27-year-old son of a war veteran and student at Great Zimbabwe University, was touched by his first visit to Chimoio.
“This is my first time here and I felt it was necessary to retrace our history and learn more about the place.
“We have only heard that our comrades were trained here and some of them died but did not know what it was like or understood the importance of their sacrifice.
“Seeing the mass graves is something shocking and touching. To know that there are thousands of bodies buried under here is saddening. This is truly a sacred area as these people sacrificed themselves for me and other Zimbabweans,” he said.
Asima went on to stress the importance of recognising such shrines as the one in Chimoio and Nyadzonia as well as for the youth of Zimbabwe to make trips to these places to experience and appreciate the history of their freedom.
Walking the group around different mass grave sites, Cde Future Pariano, a war veteran who was at Chimoio in 1977, was the one to explain the events that took place and why it was important.
“All you see here was dense and thick bush. It was difficult to manoeuvre through and to see that it took the Rhodesians 10 years to discover our site,” she said
“There were 14 different camps, among them Nehanda, Chindunduma, Takawira, Parirenyatwa, Pasi Tigare, Percy Ntini, Tamba Wakachenjera, Chitepo and Zvido Zvevanhu.
“When the raid took place a plane flew over our heads during parade and we thought it was just a surveillance plane that we were used to.
“Moments later the bombing started. We were caught off-guard and suffered many casualties. The camps were not prepared for such an attack. Chindunduma, for example, was a school camp for children of the veterans,” she explained.
Some 6 000 people were killed at Chimoio and this caused a setback in the liberation struggle but did not eliminate the cause but gave the ZANLA forces more resolve to attain independence.
Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Mandi Chimene addressed the youths in Mutare upon their return from Chimoio.
“I applaud your efforts in making this trip to Chimoio and I pledge my support as I see how serious you are, evidenced by the different provinces here represented.
“My hope is that you as children of war veterans look for each other and build a bond as an association because the sacrifices made by the fallen comrades must not be in vain and we must not forsake the gains of independence,” she said
The minister urged the association in its future activities to invite children of war veterans from all walks of life as it was important for such history to be shared with all youths regardless of status or class.
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