Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
THE Beitbridge community is excited and grateful to the Government’s move to recognise and upgrade Zezani Assembly Point into a liberation monument where the national Independence flame was lit this year by Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga.
This is the point where the roadshow began on April 10 after which it was taken through all the districts in Matabeleland South before reaching the venue of the national Independence celebrations at Maphisa in Matobo District.
Officially known as Juliet Assembly Point, this historic site played a crucial role in Zimbabwe’s liberation war, serving as a gathering point for ZIPRA and ZANLA forces under Commonwealth supervision.
The site, which is the only assembly point in the province and one of 16 such centres countrywide, is also located at the old Rural Infrastructure Development Agency campsite and is now being developed by the National Museums and Monuments.
Zimbabwe’s closing chapter of the liberation struggle was decided at the Lancaster House Constitutional Conference between September 10 and December 15, 1979.
Described by many historians as the “Last Funeral Parlour” of the British Empire, it was at the Lancaster House Conference that a decision was reached to establish what was to be called assembly points.
Assembly points were established as rendezvous to facilitate the demobilisation of thousands of freedom fighters deployed.
The idea of assembly points was to ensure that freedom fighters registered their names, surrendered their weapons and recorded the serial numbers of their weapons, with periodic checks being conducted by commanders of the Patriotic Front, composed of ZANLA and ZIPRA forces.
At that time, the Commonwealth forces provided 1 500 peacekeepers — 150 Australians, 22 Fijians, 50 Kenyans and 75 New Zealanders. Britain provided 800 soldiers, with 300 coming from the Royal Force and a small contingent from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Albert Nguluvhe recently toured the site where the NMMZ is constructing a monument and expressed satisfaction with the progress.
“This is a very important part of our war heritage. The monument will not only honour our fallen heroes but also serve as a symbol of unity and pride for the community,” he said.
Work on the monument that will feature an independence flame stand, flag-posts, a metal silhouette of a soldier, an interpretive house, and an interpretive board is almost complete.
