700 former liberation war fighters reburial in progress

THE reburial of the remains of over 700 former liberation war fighters that were buried at disused mine shafts at Chibondo in  Mt Darwin began on Friday, state controlled 'The Herald' reported.

The remains were exhumed early this year through efforts by the Fallen Heroes of Zimbabwe Trust.

Speaking at the reburial, Zanu-PF Politburo member and Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister, Saviour Kasikuwere, said the process should remind Zimbabweans of the cruelty of the Ian Smith regime.

"I hope that this area would become a national shrine and remind people of the atrocities of the Ian Smith regime and the holocaust he carried out against our people.

"This process should give finality to the decent burial of the fallen heroes that everyone of us requires," he said.
Minister Kasukuwere dismissed accusations in some quarters that the reburial process was an election campaign gimmick by Zanu-PF.
"You cannot campaign by burying people . . . that is sick. Zanu-PF cannot get votes by burying people, it is the party that brought independence to Zimbabwe.

"All the people that are here are not looking for votes, but are here to give our people decent burial.
"This process is actually an indictment to those that massacred our people and is a classic example of how our people were brutalised," Minister Kasukuwere said.

He urged Zimbabweans to remember their history and where they came from especially during this period when the nation was commemorating Heroes Day. Speaking at the same occasion Zanu-PF

Mashonaland Central chairman, Cde Dickson Mafios, said the work by the Trust was commendable.
"As Zanu PF, we are happy that we are giving our heroes the decent burials that they deserve.
"These people were killed by the Ian Smith regime and we thank all those that have contributed to ensure that these heroes are properly buried," he said.

Cde Mafios said it was necessary for the inclusive Government to provide more resources for such heroes lying elsewhere in the country to be properly buried.
"There are over 200 such sites in Zimbabwe and we urge the inclusive Government to provide resources for their burials.

"It is, however, unfortunate that the Government is not speaking with one voice. There are those who are working with our former enemies and are against such initiatives," Cde Mafios said.

Secretary general of the FHTZ, Cde Anna Garikai, commended the local community in Mt Darwin for providing resources to carry out the reburials.

"We are happy because of the support we have received from the local community. We urge the Government to provide resources so that we carry out the programme in all the country's provinces.
"We believe that Zimbabweans should also contribute to such initiatives," she said.

Cde Garikai said over 24 000 people visited the site since the exhumations started this year before they were stopped by Bulawayo High Court following a court challenge by former Zipra guerrillas.
Scores of people and local villagers attended yesterday's burial. The burials are expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central province led the process by mobilising resources to rebury the remains of the deceased former freedom fighters.