A former Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZPRA) regional commander has urged authorities to prioritise the reburial of fallen liberation war heroes whose remains lie in neglected and weather-worn graves across operational zones.
In a letter addressed to Veterans of the Liberation Struggle minister Monica Mavhunga, ex-ZPRA Northern Front 2 Regional Zone commander, Andrew Ndlovu, lamented the government’s inaction regarding reburials in certain regions.
Ndlovu expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of burial sites of liberation fighters who died in combat during Zimbabwe’s war of independence.
“This is not the first time I am appealing to the government to include in its budget a reburial program for comrades who died in the operational areas,” Ndlovu wrote.
“While I appreciate that something has been done in some zones, the situation in Northern Front 2 and other areas remains dire.”
According to Ndlovu, they visited several grave sites in his former operational region only to find that many had been washed away by rains.
“If the situation is not attended to while we are still alive as commanders of the liberation struggle, our comrades’ bones will never rest in peace and their spirits will haunt us forever,” he added.
The ex-combatant also called for recognition and proper burial of peasants who supported the liberation movement and perished during the struggle.
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He added that their families, many of whom lost property or land, should receive compensation or state support.
“I am requesting that the graves of villagers who died in support of the war effort be formally recognised, and their families be pensioned for lost property,” he said.
In 2024, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) pleaded with Parliament to fast-track laws on the exhumation and reburial of ex-combatants buried in mass graves mainly in Zambia and Mozambique.
The ZNLWVA also petitioned Parliament last year to exercise its powers to cause the repatriation and reburial of the remains of ex-combatants.
In 2020, the remains of 11 suspected freedom fighters were exhumed in Mutoko district and reburied at Kapondoro Heroes Acre in Mutoko East constituency.
Mutoko district was one of the hotspots of the liberation struggle due to its proximity to neighbouring Mozambique, where youths were trained to fight the Ian Smith-led regime.
