Online Reporter
Richard Muponde, Zimpapers Politics Hub
REMAINS of approximately 30 Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZPRA) freedom fighters who perished during the liberation struggle, including those of a Tanzanian national who volunteered to fight, have been identified in the dense bushlands of Hurungwe, Mashonaland West Province.
The remains, which were scattered across remote areas where battles once raged, are set to receive a long-overdue and dignified reburial.
The discovery represents a solemn reminder of the unfinished business of Zimbabwe’s liberation legacy.
While the country gained independence in 1980, the remains of many who sacrificed their lives for majority freedom remain unaccounted for or forgotten, left exposed to nature’s elements for over four decades.
Most of the remains in Hurungwe lie in the open, where they have endured years of exposure to weather extremes. Some have been swept away by floods, eroded by wind and rain, or scattered by animals, compounding the challenge of recovery.
In stark contrast to formal war cemeteries, these unmarked sites offer no headstones, no names, and no closure for families.
As of now, six sets of remains have been exhumed. They are being temporarily housed at the Karoi District Hospital Mortuary while preparations are underway to conduct traditional and cultural rites before final reburial.
In an interview with Zimpapers Politics Hub, the chairperson of the Fallen Heroes Trust, Dr Arthur Makanda, emphasised the spiritual and cultural dimension of the process.
He revealed that the combatants were primarily identified through manifestations on spirit mediums, a traditional method long held in reverence by communities across Zimbabwe.
“We have managed to identify these combatants whose remains were scattered in the bushes where they died during the liberation struggle,” said Dr Makanda.
“Most of them manifested on spirit mediums, identifying themselves, their relatives, and their rural homes. Two of these are of Ndebele origin, from Filabusi and Gokwe, respectively.
However, their families declined to reclaim the remains, citing cultural customs that prohibit taking home the bodies of those who died violent deaths. As a result, we will bury them here in Hurungwe.”
This effort is not exclusive to ZPRA, the military wing of ZAPU, but extends to all liberation war fighters, including those from ZANLA, the armed wing of ZANU.
The objective, according to Dr Makanda, is to provide a dignified resting place for all who made the ultimate sacrifice, regardless of political or regional affiliation.
“It should be understood that the narrative is not about exhuming ZPRA cadres only, but all national heroes who died in the liberation struggle from both participating liberation wings — ZANLA and ZPRA,” clarified Dr Makanda.
“We have other remains in areas like Rusape, who manifested and were also identified.”
The reburial process is a sensitive and ceremonial one, rooted in Zimbabwean cultural traditions. Rituals must be performed to cleanse the spirits of the deceased, reconcile them with their ancestors, and ensure their peaceful transition to the afterlife.
Only after these rituals will the fallen combatants be buried in a manner befitting their contribution to the nation.
“We are hoping to bury them soon. So far, the remains of six are currently held at Karoi Hospital Mortuary, awaiting burial once everything has fallen into place,” said Dr Makanda.
He added that the focus on Hurungwe and Sanyati is due to the prevalence of exposed remains in those areas.
Unlike other regions where fallen fighters were at least buried in shallow graves, Hurungwe saw more intense combat, and many of the bodies were left unburied.
“I know people might want to ask why we are concentrated more in Hurungwe and Sanyati,” he said.
“The answer is simple, most of the identified remains are in the open, unlike in other places where they were buried in shallow graves. For your own information, most of the remains in Hurungwe have no skulls, except for one whose skull was taken for ritual purposes by a villager and is still in his possession.”
This grim detail underlines the ongoing challenges faced by the Fallen Heroes Trust, which has been at the forefront of such reburial efforts for over thirty years. One of the most notable undertakings by the organisation was the Chibondo reburials in Mt Darwin, where mass graves of liberation fighters were exhumed and re-interred with proper respect and ceremony.
That exercise sparked national reflection and reawakened interest in honouring Zimbabwe’s liberation heroes.
ZPRA fighters, many of whom were trained in Zambia, Angola, Algeria, Bulgaria and the Soviet Union, played a critical role in Zimbabwe’s fight against colonial rule.
The sacrifices made by the freedom fighters remain etched in the memories of those who served alongside them and the communities they came from.
The inclusion of a Tanzanian national among the fallen also highlights the regional solidarity that underpinned the liberation struggle.
Tanzania, under the leadership of Julius Nyerere, was a key supporter of southern African liberation movements, offering sanctuary, training camps, and logistical support to Zimbabwean freedom fighters.
Efforts such as those by the Fallen Heroes Trust are not just about historical redress; they are about national healing. Each reburial represents a restored dignity, a fulfilled promise, and a step towards closing one of the many wounds left by the protracted liberation war.
As preparations continue for the burials in Hurungwe, the hope is that more communities will come forward with information to help locate and honour those still lost to history, so that, at last, all who fought for Zimbabwe’s freedom may rest in peace.
