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Chronicle Reporter
VANDALS have descended on cemeteries in Bulawayo where they have desecrated graves including those of national and provincial heroes and heroines. Chronicle yesterday visited Pelandaba Cemetery where it observed three graves of national heroes whose tombstones were either vandalised or stolen.
The perimeter fence has also been pulled down and grass has overgrown in the cemetery, a clear sign that the area lacks maintenance.
The grave of national hero, Cde Njini Ntuta who died on 25 November 1984 had a missing headstone while at Cde Artwell Nelson Bokwe’s grave, another national hero, thieves stole the concrete slabs bordering it.
Cde Bokwe died on 24 January 1981 and was declared a national hero.
The grave of another national hero, who was a close friend of the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo, Cde Lazarus Mavava Nkala, has also been vandalised and the gravestone is missing.
Cde Nkala who was also declared a national hero died at the height of the liberation struggle on 3 December 1975.
The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) provincial administrator for Bulawayo Cde Boniface Ndlovu expressed concern over the neglect of graves of national heroes.
He called on the Government through the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) to address the problem.
NMMZ is responsible for the erection of tombstones and maintenance of graves of heroes and heroines.
“We are really not happy with the poor state of most graves of national heroes buried outside the National Heroes Acre. In fact, there are three graves of national heroes buried at Pelandaba Cemetery and they have been vandalised.
“What actually pains us most is that no one seems to care about these graves despite the fact these people played a big role in liberating Zimbabwe from colonialism. They sacrificed their lives and surely we should respect them by ensuring that their graves are constantly maintained and kept in a good state.
“If President Mugabe decides to visit these graves it would really be an embarrassment to us as a province,” said Cde Ndlovu.
He urged the Government to employ security guards to guard against the theft and vandalism of graves of heroes.
Similar cases of vandalism of graves of liberation and liberation war heroes have also been reported at other cemeteries such as West Park and Athlone.
The caretaker at Pelandaba Cemetery said they reported the matter to the NMMZ more than 12 months ago, but nothing has been done to address the challenge.
“The National Museums and Monuments is aware of acts of desecration on graves of people who were declared national and provincial heroes and heroines. BCC charges a maintenance fee of $17 per year,” he said.
Contacted for comment, the director of NMMZ Dr Godfrey Mahachi said he was aware of the development. He said his organisation was under-resourced.
“We are aware that most of the graves of national heroes and heroines buried outside the National Heroes Acre in Harare are in a poor state. It is unfortunate that there have been acts of desecration on some graves whose tombstones were erected by the National Museums and Monuments.
“It is only an issue of inadequate resources that continues to be a challenge to us and once we secure funding we will redo the graves,” he said.
Online Reporter