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Govt documents 400 Manama Mission cadres
5 hrs ago |
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The Government has begun a formal process to document and preserve the names of more than 400 liberation war cadres who left Manama Mission School in 1977 to join the armed struggle, in what is set to become a permanent memorial record of their contribution to Zimbabwe's independence.
The initiative will see a full roll call of the former pupils, teachers and nurses inscribed at a dedicated memorial site, ensuring that each individual who participated in the historic mass departure is recognised by name.
The group left Manama Mission School in Gwanda District and travelled through Botswana to join ZIPRA forces in Zambia, marking one of the most significant collective mobilisations into the liberation struggle.
Speaking during Independence Day commemorations in Maphisa, President Emmerson Mnangagwa highlighted Matabeleland South's central role in the liberation war, describing the region as a landscape of both sacrifice and heroism. He referenced several historic sites, including mission stations and battlegrounds, as enduring symbols of the country's liberation history.
The Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs says the documentation exercise is already underway and will ensure that all participants, both living and deceased, are properly identified and honoured. Acting Chief Director Joyce Pikinini said the aim is to restore identity and dignity to those who took part in the struggle, while also preserving their stories for future generations.
She added that the Manama initiative forms part of a broader national programme to identify and develop liberation war heritage sites, aligning with government efforts to preserve historical memory and promote inclusive recognition of all who contributed to independence.
Veterans who were part of the 1977 group have welcomed the move, describing it as long overdue and emotionally significant, as it formally acknowledges their sacrifices and those of comrades who did not survive the war.
The memorial project is expected to become one of the key national heritage undertakings in Matabeleland South, reinforcing efforts to document Zimbabwe's liberation history in a more structured and personalised way.
The initiative will see a full roll call of the former pupils, teachers and nurses inscribed at a dedicated memorial site, ensuring that each individual who participated in the historic mass departure is recognised by name.
The group left Manama Mission School in Gwanda District and travelled through Botswana to join ZIPRA forces in Zambia, marking one of the most significant collective mobilisations into the liberation struggle.
Speaking during Independence Day commemorations in Maphisa, President Emmerson Mnangagwa highlighted Matabeleland South's central role in the liberation war, describing the region as a landscape of both sacrifice and heroism. He referenced several historic sites, including mission stations and battlegrounds, as enduring symbols of the country's liberation history.
The Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs says the documentation exercise is already underway and will ensure that all participants, both living and deceased, are properly identified and honoured. Acting Chief Director Joyce Pikinini said the aim is to restore identity and dignity to those who took part in the struggle, while also preserving their stories for future generations.
She added that the Manama initiative forms part of a broader national programme to identify and develop liberation war heritage sites, aligning with government efforts to preserve historical memory and promote inclusive recognition of all who contributed to independence.
Veterans who were part of the 1977 group have welcomed the move, describing it as long overdue and emotionally significant, as it formally acknowledges their sacrifices and those of comrades who did not survive the war.
The memorial project is expected to become one of the key national heritage undertakings in Matabeleland South, reinforcing efforts to document Zimbabwe's liberation history in a more structured and personalised way.
Source - The Chronicle
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