Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike in Luanda, Angola
VICE-PRESIDENT Kembo Mohadi is today expected to arrive in Luanda, Angola, where he will visit shrines of liberation war fighters, assess the state of mass grave sites and further strengthen ties between Harare and Luanda.
He will be accompanied by senior Government officials.
During the visit, Vice-President Mohadi is tomorrow expected to meet the Angolan Vice-President before travelling to the Boma Mass Burial Grave in Luena, Moxico, where he will lay wreaths and engage with local communities.
Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Mr Zvinechimwe Churu, expressed gratitude to the Angolan Government for facilitating the visit.
“We come in humility and gratitude, recognising the Republic of Angola’s immense contribution to our liberation.
“Today, we pay tribute to the gallant heroes of our Liberation Struggle who made the ultimate sacrifice in this noble land.
“Our aim is to immortalise their memory through the erection of a befitting shrine, symbolising our appreciation for their sacrifices and Angola’s role in our struggle for freedom.
“To achieve this, the proposal is to work closely with the Government of the Republic of Angola to preserve the mass grave and other burial sites to protect the history of our liberation struggle for future generations, and strengthen the bonds of friendship and co-operation between our two nations,” he said.
Mr Churu said the Vice-President’s visit was intended to cement ties of solidarity between Zimbabwe and Angola.
“The visit next week (today) by the Honourable Vice-President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, will serve to appreciate the state of affairs at the mass grave site and acknowledge the great ties of solidarity between our two countries and people.
The programme is to work in preserving these critical heritage sites, and extend a philanthropic gesture to the Boma community, which hosted our liberation fighters, suffered collateral damage during the 1979 massacre and continue to look after the sacred liberation heritage site up to today,” he said.
Vice-President Mohadi’s trip is part of the Second Republic’s broader agenda to document, preserve and honour the legacy of Zimbabwe’s fallen heroes, particularly those buried in foreign lands. The initiative highlights Government’s commitment to safeguarding liberation heritage and ensuring the sacrifices of gallant sons and daughters are remembered.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Angola Dr Thando Madzvamuse said Angola and Zimbabwe continue to share strong relations, underscored by the signing of 11 Memoranda of Understanding in various economic sectors during the Joint Permanent Commission of Co-operation held last year.
“We have good relations, as I indicated. You may want to know that recently, only last year, we had our second joint permanent co-operation, which was held here in Angola, and we came up with a number of memoranda of understanding, I think 11 of them, across all the economic sectors and social sectors as well, co-operation in culture, co-operation in agriculture, and all other sectors you might think of,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu