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1964, after embarking on a spiritual voyage to the Middle East and West Africa to acquaint himself with Islam.
The experience in Saudi Arabia would later become a life-changing epiphany for Malcolm X – an enlightening experience that incalculated in him the fundamentals of Islamic religion and respect for humanity.
In the same spirit, Harare Polytechnic’s Department of Civic Education last week left on a pilgrimage to Nyadzonia and Chimoio, two of the many shrines scattered around Mozambique where gallant sons of the soil who fell to the enemy forces during the war of liberation lie buried.
The trip was conducted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education’s new curriculum and field training for students undertaking National and Strategic Studies (NASS).
About 63 persons including four civic education lecturers and five representatives from Zanu-PF went on the trip that lasted three days from February 25 to February 28.
Acting head of the civic education department Mr Francis Chipeni said the trip was an important undertaking.
“NASS is a subject that is meant to evoke patriotism and national consciousness so that students can appreciate our independence and become responsible citizens.
“The new module requires that students are appraised on issues of national significance from a practical point of view, a dimension that has been lacking since the inception of the programme in 2003,” said Mr Chipeni.
This opportunity allowed lecturers to familiarise themselves with national monuments that played a pivotal role in the history of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
“Fields visits are important also for lecturers to be re-oriented in aspects they are specialised in so that they can appreciate things first hand.
“It was the starting point in field training for our staffers and going forward, such visits will be undertaken every term to various monuments,” he said.
The mention of the term “Operation Dingo” conjures up memories of the supremacist Rhodesian government’s brutality, indignity and merciless killing of Zanla guerrillas and innocent people at Chimoio in 1977.
The team made its first stop at Pungwe River where the tour guide, Cde Alice Mutindori, whose Chimurenga name was Cde Zvichapera Melorine, a survivor who witnessed the massacre at Chimoio, explained to students that the bridge was bombed to cut off guerrillas fleeing from the attack.
The historic bridge, which was destroyed by ferocious bombs of the Rhodesian Air force in a fear-provoking scene – offers enough explanation on how determined the enemy was in exterminating the guerrillas. The team proceeded to Nyadzonia shrine.
The musical atmosphere that filled the bus was unexpectedly whacked as the shrine shone through tree leaves when Cde Mutindori broke into emotional sobs sending a chill down the spines of students.
The site of the shrine had seemingly rekindled the harrowing memories of Operation Dingo in the mind of the tour guide. Students’ eyes peeped through windows, scouting the surrounding area for the likely cause of Cde Mutindori’s emotional rapture.
Their eyes finally rested on four massive mass graves arranged in the form of a cross with one small grave at the centre. Cde Mutindori performed rituals before the much awaited orientation.
“Nyadzonia and Chimoio massacre transpired due to betrayal by Morrison Nyathi and guerrilla-infiltration by Selous Scouts; as such students need to be educated on the importance of safeguarding and defending their sovereignty.
“This is the place where people who were killed at Nyadzonia are buried. They set the fire around the camp to minimise the chances of escaping and it worked because that was the untimely end for many who perished during the massacre,” explained Cde Mutindori.
After spending the day at Nyadzonia, the team proceeded to Chimoio shrine.
The night was filled with pomp and fanfare as the students broke into Chimurenga jingles. As dawn approached students were assembled for orientation of the tour of the shrine.
“Chimoio was bombed on December 23 1977 and the attack lasted for three days. After an offensive attack by ground and air force, the Rhodesian forces moved into the area searching for survivors whom they killed mercilessly with bayonets,” said Cde Mutindori.
Asked whether all the guerrillas had died from the attack by the Rhodesians, Cde Mutindori said those who escaped from the bullets and bayonets later died from food poisoning.
Chimoio was the Zanla headquarters in Mozambique where all administrative work was done.
Students were taken on a tour of all mass graves and the museum which houses what remains of the weapons used by the guerrillas.
The lecture continued as the students were weeding around the graves where selfless sons and daughters of the soil finally were laid to rest.
Students listened carefully to the caretaker as he told of the mysterious stories happening at the shrine.
Civil engineering student at Harare Polytechnic, Solomon Ganyiwa, said he was happy to be part of the enlightening expedition. However, he expressed concern at the dilapidation of the shrines and poor maintenance.
“The shrine is not well preserved as it is in a dilapidated state. The infrastructure at the site is poorly developed especially the roads that leads to the area. We risk losing everything if appropriate measures are not taken,” said Ganyiwa.
Another student, Maybe Chimbwanda, said she had learnt about people being killed but the sightseeing helped her to understand what really transpired during the liberation struggle.
“I have seen where it all happened and it made me cherish the concept of pan-Africanism,” said Chimbwanda.
A 28-year-old Mass Communication student, Daniel Kachere, said he now understands the importance of historical places like Chimoio and Nyadzonia.
“The practical orientation gave me a better understanding of the most important event in the history of our country,” said Kachere.
About 3 000 people were killed and an estimated 5 000 were wounded while two Rhodesian soldiers were killed and six were wounded in a series of simultaneous attack on Zanla headquarters that lasted for three days.
Online Reporter