Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
THE Government has commenced a process to document and preserve the names of more than 400 liberation war cadres who left Manama Mission School in 1977 to join the armed struggle, with a comprehensive roll call set to be permanently inscribed at a planned memorial site.
In his Independence address in Maphisa last week, President Mnangagwa noted that Matabeleland South province holds sacred significance in the country’s history.
He said many areas saw brutal, protracted and defining encounters such as the Ratanyana Battleground and war monument, where ZIPRA liberation war fighters fought the racist Rhodesian troops.
“Along with Zezani, Manama, Minda and Thekwane missions, these zones stand as haunting and yet heroic reminders of the cruelty suffered by our people. The landscapes of Matabeleland South, mission halls and many schools tell of a rich past,” said President Mnangagwa.
“They continue to be symbols of unity, pronouncing to present and future generations the enduring truth that the struggle for independence was executed by all Zimbabweans, who transcended ethnic and regional lines. Their courage, resilience and fortitude saw us realise the independence, freedom and democracy we enjoy today.”
The Manama initiative, now underway, marks a significant step towards formally recognising the individual contributions of pupils, teachers and nurses who departed from the Gwanda District institution and travelled through Botswana to join the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) in Zambia.
Among the group were some of the most prominent figures in Zimbabwe’s post-independence era such as national heroes, Dr Sibusiso (SB) Moyo and Cde Sampson Mpabanga, former Air Force of Zimbabwe Commander, Retired Chief Air Marshal Elson Moyo, Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Albert Nguluvhe and former Zimbabwe Elections Commission (Zec) chief elections officer, Mr Utloile Silaigwana.
Others include former Zvishavane legislator Cde Obert Matshalaga, former Cabinet Minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa, Air Commodore Selebale Masera and Mrs Mercy Sibanda, wife to former Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander General (Rtd) Philip Valerio Sibanda.
In an interview, acting chief director in the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs, Ms Joyce Pikinini, said the documentation exercise is aimed at ensuring that every cadre, both living and deceased, is identified and honoured by name.
Ms Pikinini said the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs is mandated to memorialise the liberation struggle.
“We are documenting the history of the liberation struggle. Manama Mission High School stands out as one of the most significant historic sites chosen because of the scale and nature of what happened here,” she said.
Ms Pikinini said the process of compiling the names is already in progress and the roll will be displayed at the site.
“As a ministry, we are compiling names of people who journeyed from the school, as we want to know them by name so that we can honour them. We want to honour those who lost their lives so that they can be remembered and also honour those who are alive so they can tell their story.
“The names will be displayed at the monumental site. This is about restoring identity and dignity to each individual who took part in the liberation struggle,” she said.
Ms Pikinini said the initiative forms part of a broader Government programme to identify, document and develop liberation war heritage sites, while safeguarding the country’s history for future generations. She said the programme aligns with President Mnangagwa’s inclusive development agenda that leaves no place and no one behind.
In January 1977, more than 400 individuals left Manama Mission School in one of the most significant mass departures to join the armed struggle, sacrificing their education, youth and personal freedoms to fight for the country’s independence.
Veterans who were part of that group said the Government’s documentation drive is both emotional and long overdue as it validates their experiences and preserves the memory of fallen comrades.
Cde Sitshengisiwe Thandiwe Dube, whose liberation name was Neutral Moyo, said former cadres have also taken an active role in the process by compiling their own records.
“We have created a WhatsApp group where we are working together to come up with a database of all comrades who were part of the journey. It has been an emotional exercise because it brings back memories of those we lost, but it is important that they are remembered,” she said.
Cde Dube said the formal recording of their names at a national monument affirms that the sacrifices made by the group were not in vain.
“It gives us pride to know that our contributions are being recognised by the Government in such a lasting way. At the time, we were young and did not fully understand the magnitude of what we were doing, but today we see the value of that sacrifice,” she said.
Another veteran, Cde Keabetswe Dube, also known as Sithabile Mtshatshi or KD, said the initiative offers a sense of closure to survivors and to families of those who died during the struggle.
“The night we left was the last time I saw some of my friends. We went through a lot and lost many comrades along the way. Seeing their names being documented and honoured brings comfort and a sense of healing,” she said.
Cde Dube said the memorialisation will also help future generations understand the central role played by young people in the liberation struggle.
“When we tell our children that we fought for this country, there will be a place and a record that shows exactly what we did,” she said.
The planned memorial site at Manama Mission School is expected to serve as a permanent tribute, transforming the institution into a national liberation shrine where the legacy of the more than 400 cadres will be preserved, not only in memory but by name.
The site has already been recognised as one of the country’s key heritage locations, symbolising the collective contribution of ordinary citizens, including students, to the liberation of Zimbabwe.
In a symbolic gesture underscoring its historical significance, the Independence Flame recently passed through Manama Mission School during its tour of Matabeleland South ahead of Independence Day celebrations, further cementing the site’s place in the nation’s liberation history. —@DubeMatutu
