Story by Gay Matambo
THE importance of immortalising burial sites outside Zimbabwe where liberation struggle fighters were interred came under the spotlight during a visit to one of the former ZIPRA training camps in the Caculama area of Malanje Province, Angola, by veterans of the liberation struggle.
After the bombing of the Boma ZIPRA training camp in 1979, another camp was established in Caculama.
Veterans of the liberation struggle, including Brigadier General (Rtd) Abel Mazinyane and Major General (Rtd) Richman Ncube, visited the site and reflected on its historical significance during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
“I was a member of the ZIPRA high command, and I came here so that we can identify and mark the graves of our fighters here in Angola. These people were moved from Boma, especially the instructors, after Boma was attacked, trying to increase the distance between our camps and the enemy. It was a normal procedure.
“We did that in Zambia when Freedom Camp was attacked, and we moved it further north, and when Mkushi was attacked, we moved the camp further towards the border with DRC. It was part of the defence to try to increase the distances, and because after that, we took certain precautions, as every bombardment was a learning curve. The people training here remained at this camp until the time Zimbabwe attained its independence,” said Brigadier General (Rtd) Mazinyane.
“During the liberation struggle, we came here as a result of the bombardment in Boma. Boma was close to the border, and therefore, it was felt by the leadership that we should move further north away from the southern border,” Major General (Rtd) Ncube said.
“We came here in 1979, and with the fourth group of trainees. When we came here, there was nobody here. It was actually a game reserve, and we were the first to be established here. There were more than 2000 of us here, both the instructors and the recruits. When we arrived here, we were deployed in a defensive posture, having learnt some lessons from the Boma massacre. Here, we were in a circular defence system.”
The visit comes at a time when government is spearheading a programme that focuses on immortalising and protecting liberation heritage sites.
“Today, here with the assistance of the locals, we have identified graves of those who died here due to natural causes. There wasn’t any bombardment that took place here. The deaths that occurred here were due to natural causes, and so far, we appreciate the assistance we received from the senior leadership and the locals here in Malanje.
“We were sent by our leadership in Zimbabwe to identify places where Zimbabweans were buried outside the country in Angola during the liberation struggle, and we are happy to have identified the graves here,” said the Deputy Minister of the Veterans of the liberation struggle, Honourable Headman Moyo.
Despite the camp’s significance to the country’s liberation struggle, the area is yet to be rehabilitated, with the Angolan government pledging to support the Zimbabwean government to memorialise the camp.
“Knowing that there are Zimbabwean soldiers that were interred here after they died during training here in Caculama, it is important that we have helped the Zimbabwean government to locate where they were buried here so that the area is marked because as it is there is nothing to show that this where they were buried and we will help in any way we can to memorialise the place,” noted Administrator of Caculama, Ms Fatima Paulo.
As the veterans of the liberation struggle conclude their tour of Angola, where ZIPRA, the sacrifice made by Angola during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, will forever be appreciated.
