Post Reporter
THE remains of over 150 liberation war fighters who lost their lives during protracted battles in Ruwombwe Mountain, Makoni West Constituency, are set to be exhumed and given proper burials.Exhumation process started on Wednesday after engineers from Zimbabwe National Army carried out the ground clearance. There are over 150 war veterans and war collaborators lying in shallow graves at the site. Ruwombwe was a strategic base for freedom fighters, and this was the meeting point for comrades coming or going to Mozambique. Comrades were deployed from there to different sectors.
“There were many fierce battles fought there, and as a result there are many shallow graves. The traditional leadership and community have been asking that the comrades lying there should be accorded decent reburials in the same mountain to preserve its history. We will push for the place to be declared a national shrineExhumation process started on Wednesday after engineers from Zimbabwe National Army carried out the ground clearance. There are over 150 war veterans and war collaborators lying in shallow graves at the site. Ruwombwe was a strategic base for freedom fighters, and this was the meeting point for comrades coming or going to Mozambique. Comrades were deployed from there to different sectors.
“There were many fierce battles fought there, and as a result there are many shallow graves.
The traditional leadership and community have been asking that the comrades lying there should be accorded decent reburials in the same mountain to preserve its history. We will push for the place to be declared a national shrineThere are a number of shallow graves of war veterans and collaborators in areas such as Nedewedzo, Denzva, Mupururu, Karikiriki (Crofton), and Mutanda Range, among others,” said Chief Makoni.Chief Makoni, who led the exhumation process with a traditional bira last weekend, said there were a number of sites with shallow graves in the district that need to be attended to.
He said culturally, each fallen fighter must be accorded a proper and dignified burial.
“We have mobilised resources to enable the process to kick start. It is my wish that all fallen comrades be accorded decent reburials. They died in combat for right cause to liberate their motherland so that the citizens live freely and enjoy the freedom we have today. The exhumation and reburials have been there since time immemorial,
even in the Bible, Joseph’s remains were taken to Canaan.In Makoni, we have many other places that have comrades still lying in shallow mass graves like Muzerengi (Bvekerwa Village), Nyazura, Gijima Farm (Headlands), Mayo and Chiendambuya. We still have more cases being reported by the respective communities.
“The traditional leadership is leading the exhumation process because it is both cultural and spiritual. They are the ones who perform the rituals for the process to be successful. The reburial process will help to bring closure to the families of the departed comrades. During the war, as comrades, we pledged to rebury those who would have fallen during battles. Some comrades will be
identified by their names and their relatives will be notified. Culturally, we cannot have mass graves where men, women and children lie together. Each deceased person must be buried in a separate grave,” said Cde Kagweda.during the liberation war, with fierce clashes occurring in areas such as Nyazura and Headlands, where white commercial farmers resisted the influx of comrades, determined to protect their large and productive farms.
Chairman of Manicaland Identification, Verification, Exhumation and Reburial of Fallen Heroes Trust, Cde Gift Kagweda said the process started on Wednesday following the availing of resources by the traditional leadership and clearing of the area by army engineers.
