News / National
Storm over Zipra graves
25 May 2014 at 17:36hrs | Views
FORMER Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (Zipra) combatants have expressed anger after they were allegedly barred from visiting Mashonaland West province.
According to the chairperson of the ex-Zipra combatants retired Colonel Lwazi Tsheza, the former freedom fighters alleged that in April they were stopped from identifying graves of their fallen colleagues who operated in the province during the war for liberation.
The exercise had initially been given the green light in 2013 by the then Mashonaland West governor Faber Chitarikire after local chiefs approached the ex-fighters and informed them of the presence of graves of some ex-combatants that were damaged and needed to be repaired.
"Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police approached my colleagues who were on the ground and told them that the Home Affairs minister (Kembo Mohadi) had issued an order barring the ex-Zipra combatants from going ahead with their plans," said Tsheza.
"We did not just go there. We actually spoke with the local chiefs and they highlighted that there were graves that were open and needed to be covered, hence we wrote a letter to the governor in 2013 and he okayed our move."
He said they wanted to identify the graves and have parents of the combatants informed of where their sons were buried.
"We want to identify these graves so that we may inform their parents about the burial of our colleagues and I don't know why they are stopping this noble programme.
"Moreover, Mashonaland West was our stronghold and many battles were fought and won there. It is disheartening to have our move stopped, particularly where we fought immensely. I am surprised why one should seek authority to move in a free Zimbabwe," Tsheza said.
Another former Zipra combatant Baster Magwizi said they were not only barred from conducting their programmes in Mashonaland West alone, but also in Matabeleland North, especially in Binga where they wanted to embark on a peace and healing programme.
He said the police stopped them from attending a gathering where thousands had assembled saying the meeting was not sanctioned by the State.
"It is not Mashonaland West alone. In Binga a gathering was dispersed when our presence was solely for peace and reconciliation and the area chief had given us permission to hold the meeting," Magwizi said.
However, Mohadi said he was not aware of the issue when contacted for comment on Friday.
"I do not know anything of that sort. If it did happen, it's regrettable and the former fighters need to go back to the governor. Some of these things happen at district level and do not get to police headquarters in Harare. Police have their command structures as I cannot be everywhere," he said.
According to the chairperson of the ex-Zipra combatants retired Colonel Lwazi Tsheza, the former freedom fighters alleged that in April they were stopped from identifying graves of their fallen colleagues who operated in the province during the war for liberation.
The exercise had initially been given the green light in 2013 by the then Mashonaland West governor Faber Chitarikire after local chiefs approached the ex-fighters and informed them of the presence of graves of some ex-combatants that were damaged and needed to be repaired.
"Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police approached my colleagues who were on the ground and told them that the Home Affairs minister (Kembo Mohadi) had issued an order barring the ex-Zipra combatants from going ahead with their plans," said Tsheza.
"We did not just go there. We actually spoke with the local chiefs and they highlighted that there were graves that were open and needed to be covered, hence we wrote a letter to the governor in 2013 and he okayed our move."
He said they wanted to identify the graves and have parents of the combatants informed of where their sons were buried.
"Moreover, Mashonaland West was our stronghold and many battles were fought and won there. It is disheartening to have our move stopped, particularly where we fought immensely. I am surprised why one should seek authority to move in a free Zimbabwe," Tsheza said.
Another former Zipra combatant Baster Magwizi said they were not only barred from conducting their programmes in Mashonaland West alone, but also in Matabeleland North, especially in Binga where they wanted to embark on a peace and healing programme.
He said the police stopped them from attending a gathering where thousands had assembled saying the meeting was not sanctioned by the State.
"It is not Mashonaland West alone. In Binga a gathering was dispersed when our presence was solely for peace and reconciliation and the area chief had given us permission to hold the meeting," Magwizi said.
However, Mohadi said he was not aware of the issue when contacted for comment on Friday.
"I do not know anything of that sort. If it did happen, it's regrettable and the former fighters need to go back to the governor. Some of these things happen at district level and do not get to police headquarters in Harare. Police have their command structures as I cannot be everywhere," he said.
Source - Southern Eye
