Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Mutare Bureau
VETERANS of the Liberation Struggle Affairs Minister Monica Mavhunga has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the exhumation and reburial of victims of the Second Chimurenga, whose remains lie scattered across the country in unmarked mass graves.
Speaking at the reburial of 68 fallen heroes exhumed at the Ruwombwe Shrine, under Headman Mupambawashe in Makoni West Constituency, Minister Mavhunga underscored the importance of according dignity and respect to the country’s liberation war heroes.
Yesterday’s ceremony saw 52 heroes reburied at Ruwombwe Mountain, while 16 were handed over to their families for reburial at cemeteries closer to their homes.
The fallen heroes were exhumed from mass graves in Ruwombwe Mountain and surrounding areas, as well as from a mass grave at Nyazura Police Station in Makoni South constituency.
“We gather to give decent burials to the remains of 68 freedom fighters who perished at the hands of the cruel and oppressive colonial government. Their demise is deeply woven into the fabric of our liberation story and their blood waters the independence that the nation enjoys today,” said Minister Mavhunga.
“For decades, these fallen heroes lay unforgotten, buried in caves and in shallow, unmarked graves. In addition to providing testament to the commitment by the Second Republic and His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa to provide decent and dignified burials for our comrades, today’s reburial of these gallant fighters also carves their befitting place in the annals of our history, which would be incomplete without them.
“To the families of the fallen heroes, we recognise the pain you have endured over the years, the unanswered questions and memories that may have faded, but never disappeared. You can be assured that your loved ones now have a permanent place not only in our history, but also in our hearts.
“Their courage laid the foundation of the freedom we cherish today and, because of them, we stand as a free and proud nation.”
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere, who is also the Member of Parliament for Makoni West constituency, said the fallen heroes would always be remembered for their heroic efforts to liberate the country.
“The exhumation and proper reburial of fallen heroes is an ongoing exercise spearheaded by the Government. All fallen heroes deserve decent reburials, because they sacrificed their lives for us to enjoy the freedom and democracy we have today,” said Minister Muswere.
“They bombed our people and poisoned some, but our liberators forged on fighting until they won. We should defend our country by remaining loyal to the values and principles of the liberation struggle.
“Let us remain united as a country so that we achieve Vision 2030.”
The Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, said the province still has many unmarked graves and much work remains to properly rebury the fallen heroes.
“We are saddened that we lost dedicated sons and daughters who were fighting for our liberation, but we are relieved that today we are giving them proper burials.
“We are glad that Government has committed itself to reburying all fallen heroes properly. Community leaders must help Government by identifying areas where our fallen comrades are still lying in unmarked graves so that they can be exhumed and reburied properly,” said Minister Mugadza.
The ceremony was attended by traditional leaders, ZANU PF leaders, war veterans and families of the departed heroes.
The Manicaland Identification, Verification, Exhumation and Reburial of Fallen Heroes Trust, led by war veteran Cde Gift Kagweda, has been at the forefront of the exhumation efforts, which began in April this year. Prior to the exhumations, army engineers cleared the area to ensure a safe and dignified process.
Ruwombwe was a strategic base for freedom fighters during the liberation struggle.
The site served as a crucial meeting point for comrades travelling to or from Mozambique and was also a deployment hub for various sectors. In addition to Ruwombwe, other areas in Makoni, such as Muzerengi (Bvekerwa village), Nyazura, Gijima Farm (Headlands), Mayo and Chiendambuya, are also reported to have comrades lying in shallow mass graves.
Online Reporter