Zimbabweans banned from visiting Zipra War Camp in Zambia

A ZAMBIAN chief has banned Zimbabweans from visiting Nampundwe Liberation War Camp, which is under his jurisdiction, following an unsanctioned visit by a group of controversial liberation war veterans and chiefs that have been performing rituals at the Njelele shrine in Matobo, Sunday News can exclusively reveal.
Maqhawe eSizwe Entourage, a group of liberation fighters that visited Zambia last week to tour various shrines where fallen Zipra freedom fighters were buried, was denied entry into Nampundwe Camp following disruptions caused by the war veterans who had gone there earlier. 
This is  the same group that on their return to Zimbabwe proceeded to Matobo where they wanted to conduct a ritual at the Njelele shrine but were stopped  by police resulting in them doing it at the Matobo National Park.
Chief Kanyeshi did not entertain the visitors, as he said a previous group had invaded his area without his knowledge and performed rituals that he was not aware of. The group also slept on the farm where the shrine is located without his permission.
The leadership of the Maqawe esizwe Entourage said the chief was very disappointed and would not budge to their request to tour the shrine, despite sending negotiators from the embassy to plead with him.
At a meeting in Lusaka, the Zimbabwean ambassador to Zambia, Mr Lovemore Mazemo, apologised to the group over their failure to tour Nampundwe Camp but commended them for always communicating with the embassy before their visits.
"I am sorry that you came all the way from Zimbabwe and failed to visit Nampundwe where fellow fighters are buried. I understand you could not even reach the area. I hope this situation will return to normal soon," he said.
Ambassador Mazemo said Zimbabweans should have respect for local leadership of the areas and should recognise the presence of the embassy.
"Zimbabweans should have respect for the shrines and the local leadership of the areas. It is not right that they come and fail to recognise that they should consult with leadership first," he said.
Ambassador Mazemo said the group of war veterans that visited the shrines earlier did not come through the embassy as expected and did not inform it of their intention to visit, leading to disruptions at the shrines that angered the leaders of the area.
"Any visits such as these should be communicated well in time to us so that if there is any assistance needed they get it but the former group just proceeded to Nampundwe and Freedom camps and performed their rituals without our knowledge which is not acceptable," said the ambassador.
"We commend Maqhawe esizwe for always communicating with us and as such their visits are always successful. It also enables us to write good reports back home," he said.
He said the shrines belonged to Zimbabweans and Zambians would not stop those that wanted to visit as long as this was done through the right channels.
"It is our history and people should know what happened during the struggle but they need to communicate and above all respect local leadership," he said.
The ambassador also commended Maqhawe esizwe Entourage for bringing youths to Zambia so that they have an appreciation of what occurred during the struggle.
Over 560 people claiming to be war veterans visited former Zipra camps, Freedom and Nampundwe, collecting soil and performing rituals in an attempt to "bring back" the spirits of deceased freedom fighters to Zimbabwe.
They also went to Njelele in Matopo were they performed more rituals.
Maqhawe eSizwe Entoutage successfully visited Freedom and Mkushi Girls camps were they placed flowers on graves in remembrance of former freedom fighters.
This is done every year to keep the revolution alive.
They also failed to visit Victory Camp which has been taken over by the Air Force of Zambia which was conducting a training session.
Freedom and Mkushi Girls camps were bombed on 19 October 1978, as a result over 800 people were killed, including several Zambians.
Nampundwe Camp is in Mumbwa District in Lusaka were mass graves of former freedom fighters are located.