Online Reporter
Ray Bande in CHIMOIO, Mozambique
PRESERVATION of liberation war heritage sites in neighbouring countries where some shrines are lying without basic amenities and infrastructure must be a priority, Vice President Kembo Mohadi has said.The heartless massarce of predominantly young Zimbabweans that took place in training and refugee camps in neighbouring countries during the war of liberation left several shrines where remains of the deceased were largely interred in masses.
However, up to date, apart from numerous remains of those who died or were killed during the war of liberation that are lying in unmarked graves as individuals in neighbouring countries, thousands are in shrines that have not been well maintained.
Mozambique alone has about 17 shrines of deceased cadres of the war of liberation.
For example, at Chimoio, Nyadzonia, Tembwe, Nyangao (Beira), Tongogara Memorial Site and Changara, mass graves have been constructed, while at shrines that include Madulu, Mapai, Barrage, Chibavava, Navonde, Espungabeira and Save remains of those who were either killed or died during the war are still lying in unmarked graves.
It is against this background that Vice President Mohadi, who emphasized the need to have the brutal atrocities committed by the colonial regime be preached consistently to the younger generation to inculcate a deep sense of patriotism, made the remarks during his ongoing tour of liberation war shrines in different countries in the SADC region.
Vice President Kembo Mohadi said: “There are a lot of less important things that we can sacrifice resources in order for this initiative to be undertaken. The responsible Ministry, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage must make use of the money collected from gambling to ensure that boreholes, ablution facilities and other amenities are in place at these shrines. The question from some of us who lived through this war is that are we doing enough. The answer in many circumstances is that we are not. We surely need to do more.”
In a touchy moment of political consciousness imparted to some young officers from his office who are part of this Government excusion, the Vice President said the need to have the brutal atrocities committed by the colonial regime be preached consistently to the younger generation to inculcate a deep sense of patriotism and a sense of responsibility should be prioritised.
“When you look at these mass graves, it is difficult to imagine that people were killed in numbers like this. It is painful. It all goes to show how brutal the colonial regime was. You, young people, especially all those below the age of 50, you really need to learn about this and take it seriously. Lack of that understanding and knowledge has left some of you calling on the return to colonial era so that you can start the liberation war again. It is sad, to say the least.
“The story of the liberation war must be told now and again to all Zimbabweans. It must be talked about in all social spaces regularly so that our young ones can understand what we mean when we say this country’s liberation war was nourished by human blood. This is what we mean.
“If this had happened in Europe it would be an everyday song. Look at how the Holocaust, the German attack on Jews. Up to this day they are still talking about it like it happened yesterday. This is how we should make our own war for independence a crucial story. Let us not be brainwashed into thinking that this is not important,” said Vice President Mohadi.
Cde Mohadi arrived here in Chimoio, Mozambique yesterday and kick-started his tour of liberation war heritage sites with the tour of Nyadzonia Shrine.
He is set to tour the Chimoio and Doroei Shrines today.
Vice President Mohadi is assessing liberation war shrines in neighbouring countries and take corrective action where necessary, for the departed freedom fighters to rest in peace.
The Rhodesian regime launched air and ground strikes against the country’s liberation forces and their camps and against refugee camps in neighbouring countries and many of those killed in these attacks were buried in those countries.
VP Mohadi is coming from a similar visit to Tanzania, which was preceded by visits to Zambia and Angola.
The visit is part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to document and preserve the legacy of the liberation struggle of fighters and honour fallen heroes and heroines buried in foreign lands.
In his tour of shrines in Chimoio, Vice President Mohadi is accompanied by Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Mozambique, His Excellency Victor Matemadanda, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister, Dr Omphile Marupi and Home Affairs, Cultural Heritage Deputy Minister, Honourable Chido Sanyatwe, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Social Services, Reverend Paul Damasane, and Zimbabwe’s Consul General to Beira, Mr Malvern Bere.
In Chimoio, the shrine was a training camp for ZANLA armed forces during the liberation struggle where over 1 000 people lost their lives, while over 1 800 people also perished when the Rhodesian forces attacked Nyadzonia Refugee Camp.
Doroei Refugee Camp was established on Kaitano Farm to accommodate survivors of the brutal Nyadzonia massarce.
To date, remains of about 900 people are still lying in unmarked graves at Doroei.
