Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
VICE President Colonel (Retired) Kembo Mohadi says the country should give more priority to the protection and upgrading of liberation heritage sites to effectively preserve the liberation war history.
He was speaking during his visit to the Nyadzonia Refugee Camp site in Manica Province of Mozambique this Monday, where over 1800 innocent refugees were massacred in 1976.
The Vice President says the site should be a reminder of the brutality faced during the liberation struggle, underscoring the importance of channelling more resources towards the preservation of heritage sites and transforming them into tourist attractions where the liberation war history is told.
“The country should step up its efforts to preserve the liberation war heritage as an honour to the sacrifices by the freedom fighters who lost their lives to liberate the country. The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and other supporting ministries should prioritise funding of preservation efforts of liberation heritage sites. There is nothing more deserving of funding than giving a face lift to these shrines. We also need to upgrade these shrines to ensure tourists and researchers visit the places to study and find information on the country’s liberation war history. There is need to collect bodies that are in many places and preserve them at particular shrines.”
After being taken through an emotional brief by eyewitnesses, Vice President Mohadi said more efforts should be directed towards publicising the liberation war history for the young generation to keep abreast with the sacrifices made during the liberation struggle.
“The story of the brutality of the colonial forces can send shivers down anyone listening and correct misconceptions. We need to ensure the information on these heritage sites is disseminated to ensure our liberation history does not fade away. If the liberation war history is correctly told, there will not be discord among the youths and the people of Zimbabwe on the need to defend the gains of the liberation struggle.”
The camp, located along the Nyadzonia River, housed over 5 000 unarmed refugees, mostly women, children and young recruits.
The attack, carried out by Rhodesian forces, was a massacre aided by betrayal.
Former sectoral commander turned traitor, Morrison Nyathi led the Rhodesians into the camp under pretenses.
On that fateful day, it is estimated that 1 890 people lost their lives.
Despite its significance, Nyadzonia is yet to be fully rehabilitated.
