SOME of the liberation war heroes’ graveyards, particularly those in Zambia and Mozambique, have been desecrated after the areas they are located were tilled for farming purposes.
This is contained in a report of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs, Security Services and War Veterans’ Affairs led by Beitbridge East MP Albert Nguluvhe in response to war veteran Sam Parerenyatwa’s petition.
“The petitioner explained to the committee that the external shrines, particularly those in Mozambique and Zambia, are in a deplorable state,” the report read.
“The committee was told that in Zambia, the graveyard has been turned into a farm, with remains being visible and stockpiled at the gravesite. He further emphasised the need for the remains of the veterans to be brought back home to Zimbabwe.”
War veterans urged Parliament to exercise its power and push government to set up a dedicated fund for the repatriation and reburial of the remains of ex-combatants buried in mass, shallow and in some cases unmarked graves in Zambia and Mozambique.
Nguluvhe urged the Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage ministry through the Department of National Museum and Monument of Zimbabwe to speed up the exhumation and repatriation of the fallen heroes’ remains.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage be allocated adequate funding for exhumations and reburials,” the report further stated.
“A dedicated fund for the exhumations and reburials, be established through an appropriate Act of Parliament to compel Treasury to adequately fund the exercise by 31 December 2025.”
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Most of the fallen cadres were buried at Mkushi, Freedom Camp, Nyadzonia, Tembwe and Chimoio in Zambia and Mozambique, respectively.
“Ministry of Veterans of Liberation Struggle Affairs must ensure that whenever a veteran is a declared hero, funeral assistance benefit must be provided within three days of notice of death to allow normal and decent burial of war veterans,” the report by the Nguluvhe-led committee read.
“The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion should consider capacitating the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe to enable it to recruit adequate personnel to take care of heroes’ shrines, both in and outside
the country in the 2025 national budget.”
In 2020, the remains of 11 suspected freedom fighters were exhumed in Mutoko district and reburied at Kapondoro Heroes Acre in Mutoko East constituency.
Mutoko district was one of the hotspots of the liberation struggle due to its proximity to neighbouring Mozambique.
South Africa this week repatriated the remains of 49 liberation fighters who died in exile in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
“The [Home Affairs ministry] secretary, however highlighted that, the major challenge is lack of funding which makes it difficult for the department to fulfil its mandate. Over the years there has been stagnation in development and maintenance programmes due to lack of dedicated funding for the Liberation Heritage Programme,” the report read.
“As a result the general implementation of the programme scope has been stalled. In this regard, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage has made an appeal to government to urgently release funds for the maintenance and completion of outstanding works at all sites.
“The secretary further told the committee that, the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage approached His Excellency the President on February 23, 2024 to intervene and indications are that the issue will be addressed soon.”
Added the report: “Additionally, the secretary indicated that the call to exhume and rebury the fallen heroes in mass graves in foreign countries requires a government policy shift. A decision was made in the 1990s that the remains be exhumed and buried at central places in the various camps outside the country.”
