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Fungai Lupande-Mash Central Bureau
The Independence Flame will be kindled this year at the heavily-wooded Chibondo mass grave in Mount Darwin district and then carried by a relay of runners to Mount Darwin heroes acre and then the venue for the central Independence Day celebrations this year.
Ruwadzano villagers in Mt Darwin, which envelopes the Chibondo mass grave, hold the shrine dear to their hearts and treat it with reverence as it reminds them of harrowing war crimes and brutality by the Rhodesian forces during the liberation struggle.
The community has taken over maintenance of the shrine and ensured the preservation of the 10 hectares of forest covering the shrine.
The remains of hundreds to thousands of freedom fighters and civilians were dumped in mine shafts at Chibondo, formerly known as Monkey William Mine, between 1972 and 1979 during the liberation war at one of the main mass graves in the north-east operational area.
While there was a major exhumation in 2011 after human remains were discovered when mining restarted, with recovered bodies buried in proper graves nearby, it is thought by the community that there are still many in the shafts.
Some of the remains are of people rounded up in villages and shot, while others were shoved onto the shaft alive with grenades and teargas to make sure that they did not survive.
Sabhuku Isaac Gochera said the mass grave was discovered in 2011 by gold miners who settled around the Monkey William Mine.
Born in Chihoko village, Dotito, Sabhuku Gochera said he was relocated to Chibondo in 1998 together with six others after their village was affected by the construction of Dotito Dam.
“Other villagers who were affected came from Chiyambuki village. The resettlement area was 1 400 hectares and we became the first settlers. However, we saw shells of tractors and other equipment indicating people lived here before,” he said.
“We had no idea about gold mining and one villager Moriasi Remekani started prospecting for gold at this site. He started making money and we became curious.
“We joined him and a police officer Makwende started buying the gold. We used to exchange the gold for groceries until he asked us to form a syndicate and he did the paperwork.”
Sabhuku Gochera said when they reached 90 metres into the mine they were hit by a hot stench of dead bodies before coming across human remains.
They could no longer use lamps to light the shaft because they were blowing off.
“We could not use touches and some of the bodies were in sitting and standing positions. Others had traditional regalia of spirit mediums,” he said.
“Makwende took over the mine and chased everyone away. Others who were aggrieved went to another miner Zaka Zaka and asked him to challenge Makwende.
“Zaka Zaka air pegged the mine and a legal battle ensued and Zaka Zaka won. We warned him that the shaft has human remains and we thought there were only a few.”
The Fallen Heroes Trust was contacted to remove the bodies so that mining activities could continue. All the traditional processes including contacting the chief and spirit mediums were done and on June 11, 2011, exhumations started. The community was shocked after 200 people were removed on the first day, 200 on the second day and Zaka Zaka surrendered said Sabhuku Gochera.
A total of 850 bodies were exhumed and the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe took over. The bodies except for those of three spirit mediums were buried at the site.
Sabhuku Gochera said they are waiting for the site to be constructed properly in respect of the freedom fighters.
“We believe more people than those exhumed are still inside the shafts. We are waiting for the Government’s decision on the exhumation of the remaining people. Chief Guti from Muzarabani came with spirit mediums and said some freedom fighters were left hanging at the mouth of the shaft after the exhumations,” he said.
“This meant that exhumation started from the bottom, leaving some hanging at the top. Traditional processes were done at the site and immediately we heard a loud thud as the top boulders fell done inside the shaft.
“These are our relatives and we are happy that the flame of Independence is starting from this site. This is a sacred site for this community and we don’t allow cutting down of trees.”
Mrs Viola Masunda from the same village said they are not scared of the shrine nor do they encounter strange phenomena.
“This a very important place to us. These people lying here fought for our independence. We now doing farming, leaving mining well alone, because of them,” she said.
“We are appealing for the proper construction of the shrine so that we give the fallen heroes the respect they deserve.
“We don’t witness any strange events and it shows that they are part of us. Our field is close by and even during the night we can go the field passing through the shrine.”
Preparations of the site for the Independence Day celebration are at an advanced stage and National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe northern region director Mr Godhi Bvocho said Chibondo is a place where civilians and armed combatants were dumped for supporting the second Chimurenga which started in Mt Darwin.
He said the Chibondo community and people in Mt Darwin will have a chance to commemorate the significance of the role played by armed combatants and the masses.
“The Independence flame will be kindled at this site and light from here taken by the Olympians to Mt Darwin hero’s acre to the Mt Darwin High School which is the venue of the celebrations.
“In previous commemorations, the Independence flame was lit from Harare Kopje and runners would take it to the national stadium. Last year in Bulawayo the flame was taken from Khami which is an iron age heritage site.
“The difference is that this year the flame will be taken from the actual people who experienced and suffered effects of the war. The significance is that despite that they were dumped in a mine shaft their spirits are alive”.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter