Students tour Chimoio shrine

The group, which was made up of students from universities, colleges and other vocational training institutions went to the shrine as part of efforts to make the youths appreciate the history of their country.

“The trip was meant to educate and inform the youthS about the sacrifices that were made by gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe in the struggle for independence,” said the union’s vice president Cephas Matendere.

He said it was important for the youths to understand the country’s history.
The youths toured mass graves of women, children, and men who were killed while waiting to be deployed to various war fronts.

Each grave contained between 700 and 1200 bodies.
The youths’ mass grave named Takawira is said to be mysterious as voices are heard chanting liberation songs.

“Fresh blood oozes from this grave if there is political instability in Zimbabwe. For example, during the 2008 elections fresh blood oozed from the grave,” said the curator and survivor of the Chimoio massacre Mr Martin Augusto.

After touring the mass graves the students were taken to the former Zanla offices now known as the White House Museum.
The shrine is not well preserved as it is in a dilapidated state. The roads leading to the shrine are in a poor state.

The visit was an eye-opener and helped the youths understand what transpired during the liberation struggle.
“The Chimoio massacre not only reflects the cruelty of the Ian Smith regime but it speaks volumes of how meaningless the black man’s life was and sometimes is to the former slave master,” said one of the students.

Mr Augusto said it was important for the country’s leadership to facilitate for youths to visit such shrines.
“Such visits are quite empowering and even those who never knew anything about the liberation struggle can become better informed about what transpired during the protracted armed struggle for independence,” he said.

“The trips can inspire them to appreciate their history and to want to guard the gains of their independence jealously.”
Zicosu representative Mr Farai Zimbeva said: “We have learnt how important it is for us to appreciate what our heroes went through.The future is in the youths and we feel they should learn about what happened.”