By Rex Mphisa
THE Zanu PF Beitbridge Secretary For Mining Forbes Muchihwande Sithole has said as people go into Heroes Holidays celebrations they must give a moment of thought to those who died outside the country in pursuit of independence.
“Lets always think about them, if we could we should repatriate their remains so they rest in the country they sacrificed their lives for. It must be every Zimbabwean’s dream to bring the remains of our heroes home,” Sithole said.
Thousands of Zimbabwean freedom fighter recruits, trained cadres and their leaders died in different situations ad incidences under the hands of the Rhodesian forces during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
While it is difficult to establish proper figures of those who died outside the country, the Nyadzonya Massacre in 1976 claimed over 1 000 Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) fighters and refugees.
This was during a surprise Rhodesian attack code-named Operation Eland at a camp in Mozambique.
There was yet another Espungabera Attack in Mozambique where an estimated 242 young Zimbabwean recruits and transit cadres were bombed by Rhodesian forces.
In Zambia there were major external raids on camps such as Freedom Camp and others in Rufunsa and Mkushi which resulted in massive casualties of Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army led by the late Vice President and Father Zimbabwe Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.
“This history should always be repeated and should form the basis of our national history starting from primary school level,” said Sithole.
“We also have thousands who perished at the Chimoio massacre of 1977 who we should remember,” he said.
He said the popular chimurenga song “Tondosangana kuZimbabwe” done during the war was premised on a philosophy that all remains of struggle victims would be repatriated to the free Zimbabwe.
“From what we have learnt it was an undertaking during the war that the deceased would be taken to Zimbabwe when their relatives would be officially told of the deaths of their loved ones,” he said.
Sithole said Zimbabweans must applaus President Emmerson Mnangagwa for leading a programme underway to repatriate comrades who were buried within Zimbabwe in shallow indecent graves now being given decent burials.
“President Mnangagwa should also be applauded for his policy of correcting errors done by previous government which ommited several deserving cadres he is now conferring heroes statuses.”
President Mnangagwa posthumously conferred national hero status on prominent liberation struggle figures Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole and James Chikerema in August 2022.
Both men were fierce critics and former nemeses of long-time ruler Robert Mugabe, who had adamantly blocked them from receiving the honor during his rule.