Remain vigilant, police urged

was brought through the liberation struggle.
Depot Commandant, Senior Assistant Commissioner Grace Ndebele said officers should know their country’s history and remember that gallant sons and daughters lost their lives for the country to obtain independence.
She was addressing more than 240 officers and recruits who are touring shrines where Zimbabwean freedom fighters killed during the liberation struggle in Zambia were buried.
The officers visited Mkushi Girls Camp about 126km out of Kabwe and Mulungushi Camp where there are war shrines.’
“These gallant sons and daughters lost their lives for the country to obtain its independence. Therefore you should never forget where you came from and where you are going,'” she said.
Snr Asst Comm Ndebele urged officers to remain alert and disciplined.
She said visiting the shrines was a way of making the recruits and officers appreciate the country’s history “. . . so that when we tell them about safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, you will understand.”
At Mkushi Girls Camp, over 1 000 women and girls were killed by the Rhodesian Front Forces on October 19 1978 under an operation code-named Gattling. Their remains were buried in 10 mass graves in 2005.
All along, the remains were scattered all over the ground. National Museums and Monuments Regional director (central region) Mr Lovemore Mandima, said the camp was used for holding and basic training for girls only.’
“They were trained by 13 instructors who were armed with small rifles and the place was located in a very remote area with the anticipation that their activities will not be disturbed,” he said.
He said the attack by the Rhodesian Forces was well co-ordinated and brutal.
“Most of them died in their defence positions as they were caught unaware. The attack was so brutal in that they were not trained people,” Mr Mandima said.
He said it was opened in 1977 after it was realised that there was an influx of girls who wanted to join the liberation struggle. On the fateful day, both ground and airforce soldiers went to the area where they attacked the girls. About 15 Zambian police officers and 15 soldiers who went to the scene to rescue the girls were ambushed, shot and killed by the Rhodesian Forces.
A Zambian producer, Alick Nkata who had also gone to cover the issue was shot and killed.
The Rhodesian Forces stayed at the area for more than five days before disappearing.
At Mulungushi Camp, which was a men’s camp, 33 were killed after being ambushed by the Rhodesian Forces on December 22 1978.
The camp is situated about 50km from Kabwe town.