Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
IN a move set to transform the face of Buhera, Government has announced plans to revamp Dzapasi Assembly Point National Monument, a historic liberation hub, with a multi-million infrastructure development into a modern complex featuring a state-of-the-art hospital, vocational training centre, boarding school, and political tourism facilities in honour the site’s significant role in the liberation struggle.
Dzapasi served as a critical transitional point from war to peace, where the union Jack was first lowered and the Zimbabwean flag hoisted, serving as a designated gathering point where freedom fighters surrendered their arms, paving the way for the 1980 elections.
Addressing thousands of ZANU PF supporters during the Buhera Central Constituency victory celebrations at Dzapasi Assembly Point, ZANU PF National Chairman, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also the Defence Minister, said Dzapasi will be transformed into a modern complex, featuring a district referral hospital, vocational training centre, boarding school, Chitepo School of Ideology, tourist facilities, and a value addiction and benefaction plant to improve rural livelihoods.
She said development is expected to boost local development and economic growth, promote political tourism products, while also preserving the site’s historical significance.
“Government has agreed to build a district referral hospital, Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology, vocational training centre, an agro-processing plant, and a boarding school, among other institutions here at Dzapasi. We are also looking at establishing a police station and political tourism facilities to preserve its historical significance. This place is going to be modernised and developed, and no place will be better than it in the district. We need to follow President Mnangagwa’s vision, following National Development Strategy (NDS2), and this is where we are – all the programmes we are looking forward to, the President is saying no foreigners will come and develop this country for us. We will build this country as citizens. We do not need to waste time idling in Manicaland, but push development projects that move the province forward. Manicaland is blessed; we should be pushing agriculture. There is a lot of competition among provinces to grow their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and Manicaland is blessed. We should work hard and put Manicaland on the map,” said Cde Muchinguri.
She said the people of Buhera bore the brunt of the liberation struggle and deserve such assistance from Government.
“This was one of the liberated zones, meaning you fully supported the war, and there were no enemies, which is why it was chosen as an assembly point. So you deserve these things, and Government is going to do that,” she said.
Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Minister, Senator Monica Mavhunga said Dzapasi is a very significant and holy shrine that should be treated with honour and respect.
“I am happy to be at Dzapasi, which is a sacred place, watered by the blood of fallen liberation struggle fighters. This place was selected to be the biggest assembly point in the country, and at its peak, hosted 16 000 freedom fighters as they surrendered their arms, paving the way for the 1980 elections, marking the end of colonial rule.
“That is not all. It is a place that also produced a lot of people who went out to fight for the liberation of this country. It had parents and businesses that supported the war until the last and final days. I want to thank President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic, who valued this area, its importance, and accorded it national monument status in 2017, as well as rehabilitating it in 2024. This place must be developed to match its historical significance,” she said.
There were 21 assembly points around the country for both ZANLA and ZIPRA, and Dzapasi/Foxtrot was located 60km south of Murambinda, spread over 20km, and had an estimated population of 16 000 comrades, making it the biggest assembly point in the country.
The Commonwealth Monitoring Force contingent overseeing the ceasefire was stationed at Dzapasi, and the late Cde Rex Nhongo (General Solomon Mujuru), Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri, National Political Commissar, Cde Munyaradzi Machacha, Retired Lieutenant- General Mike Nyambuya, among other luminaries, passed through its soils, overseeing the lowering of the union Jack at Dzapasi.
Dzapasi Assembly Point was accorded national monument status in 2017, thanks to the pragmatism of the Second Republic and President Mnangagwa.
Buhera Central legislator, Honourable Samson Matema, said there has been a persistent call to guard against the danger of forgetting the past.
“The historical significance of Dzapasi, which we call the holy land, in terms of the liberation struggle of the country, is holy in the sense that it was home to over 16 000 comrades who gathered here, including luminaries who commanded the bases under the overall command of the late Cde Paradzai Zimhondi. It was designated a national monument in 2017, so that alone means we were very late in terms of giving it the recognition that it deserves, hence the need for the leadership to come here, so that we push the corrective narrative in terms of the contribution that this made with respect to independence.
“We are happy as a constituency that the National Chairman, Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri came through and made some very significant pronouncements, especially around the fact that we do not have a referral district hospital in Buhera.
‘‘We do not have a vocational training centre; we do not have a boarding school in Buhera Central Constituency, and Dzapasi, geographically, is the central point of Buhera District, making it very convenient and strategic for us to have a referral hospital, boarding school, vocational training centre, and the Chitepo School of Ideology. We are excited as a constituency that Government has made these bold pronouncements. We are hopeful that going into the future, all these projects will crystallise into reality,” he said.
Honourable Matema said there is great potential for both domestic and international tourism built around Dzapasi Assembly Point – an opportunity to transform health delivery in Buhera.
He said Dzapasi is at the heart and centre of Buhera District geographically, and a Government referral hospital will ameliorate the pain and burden of many across the district.
Those visiting this important national monument will come from all directions, making it prudent to upgrade the Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge Road – a key enabler that will unlock value around Dzapasi and beyond.
“Recognising the role that Dzapasi Assembly Point played, and mindful of the absence of a boarding school to serve both Buhera Central and South, upgrading Chiurwi Secondary School will be ideal. We build from the already existing infrastructure. It works out cheaper. VTCs will capacitate locals through vocational training and skills development. Locals will acquire new skills across a whole range of fields that will align with the Vision 2030 agenda,” he said
Bongani Ndlovu