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Victor Maphosa recently in LUSAKA, Zambia
Zimbabwe and Zambia have a strong relationship that dates back to the days of the armed struggle and Lusaka’s immense contributions to ensure a free Zimbabwe will never be forgotten, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Zambia, Charity Charamba, has said.
Ambassador Charamba made the remarks in an interview after meeting members of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) in Lusaka, who were visiting the Freedom Camp shrine where hundreds of Zimbabweans, trained and untrained, were murdered by Rhodesians in 1978.
The ZNLWVA members visited the shrine to honour their colleagues who were buried in mass graves after the horrific bombardment on that particular day.
Freedom Camp was a transit camp, where those who were on their way to training camps or on their way for deployment, would stop for a few days before proceeding to their destinations.
The camp also catered for those comrades who would have been injured on the battle front.
“This kind of visit testifies the strong relations that Zimbabwe has with Zambia, which I always say dates back a long time ago and also during the armed struggle,” said Ambassador Charamba.
“We have sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who perished while in camps here in Zambia after they were bombed by Rhodesians.
“We always remember that those buried in Zambia at various shrines were murdered by Rhodesians. So when living war veterans visit these shrines, it’s an honour to their colleagues who died while fighting for freedom.”
Ambassador Charamba said some people do not appreciate the relations between Zimbabwe and Zambia are strong such that Harare will never forget the immense contributions and support Zambia provided to see an independent Zimbabwe.
“So it is important to always remember that as Zimbabwe, we had camps in this country where a lot of comrades perished.
“So the visit by war veterans here is a commendable gesture as it gives honour to those who are buried in these shrines,” she said.
Those who visited the shrine were selected from all the provinces of Zimbabwe, who included their provincial executive.
ZNLWVA national political commissar, Cde Joel Mureremba, who was leading the team, said the visit was important to the surviving comrades and the nation at large.
“We are here at Freedom Camp, Lusaka, to visit this shrine where our colleagues are buried. It is a painful experience but we are comforted that their contributions made us free and we enjoy the independence,” he said.
“It reminds us of how we came to be, what we are today, how we gained this freedom that we enjoy today.
“War is very bad. We do not want to even think of a repeat to that experience. We become so sad when we hear some young ones from Zimbabwe saying, ‘Dzoserai nyika kwayaive yakasungirirwa’.”
Cde Mureremba said as war veterans, they will not watch while some elements invite colonialism back.
“Therefore, we are strongly supporting ZANU PF and President Mnangagwa because we are aware that the ruling party is there for the people and will always guard jealously the independence that we have, which came out of sacrifice,” he said.
One of the survivors of the Freedom Camp attack, Cde Majaha Ncube from Matobo District, who on the day of the attack had just arrived at the camp for medical assistance after he was injured during battle in Zimbabwe, said events of that day were still fresh in his mind.
“Bodies of the killed Zimbabweans as well as those from Zambia were scattered all over the flat grounds of this farm.
“It was a scary sight and we saw the evil nature of the Rhodesians. They attacked unarmed people just liked that and killed them. More than 600 people died on that day.
“We never suspected that they would go to those lengths of attacking this camp and killing unarmed people. So our visit here is important because it reminds us where we came from as liberation fighters.”
Online Reporter