Zimbabwe Strengthens Liberation Heritage Ties with Sister Republics
3 min read
Maputo, Mozambique- In a renewed push to preserve and honor the legacy of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Hon. Chido Sanyatwe, led a high-level delegation from the Ministry, accompanying the Vice President, Colonel (Retired) Kembo Campbell Dugish Mohadi, on a whirlwind tour across three sister republics – Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
The historic mission aimed at assessing, documenting, and strengthening the preservation of key liberation war heritage sites that played a critical role in Zimbabwe’s fight for independence.
The delegation visited several iconic locations, including Mukushi Camp and Freedom Camp in Zambia, Bagamoyo and Iringa in Tanzania, as well as Chimoio, Doroi, Nyadzonia, and the General Josiah Magama Tongogara Memorial Site in Mozambique.
These sites stand as living testimonies to the sacrifices made by thousands of gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who dedicated their lives to achieving the freedom the nation enjoys today.
Speaking during the visit to the Nyadzonia Refugee Camp site in Manica Province, Mozambique, on Monday, Vice President Mohadi underscored the need to prioritize the protection and upgrading of liberation heritage sites as a way to preserve Zimbabwe’s history for future generations.
The Nyadzonia site is a deeply symbolic location where more than 1,800 innocent refugees were brutally massacred in 1976 by colonial forces.
“This place should serve as a permanent reminder of the brutality endured during our liberation struggle. We owe it to the departed comrades and the innocent lives lost to ensure that their stories are not erased by the passage of time,” said the Vice President.
“As a country, we must channel more resources towards the preservation of such heritage sites and transform them into vibrant tourist attractions where the rich history of our struggle for independence can be told to the world.” He added.
A significant highlight of the tour was the visit to the Josiah Magama Tongogara Memorial Site, where Zimbabwe’s revered liberation war commander met his untimely death in 1979.
The Government of Zimbabwe has erected a memorial monument at the site and constructed a state-of-the-art hospital for the local community in Mozambique, a testament to the enduring bonds of solidarity between the two nations.
The facility is set to be officially commissioned later this year by His Excellency, President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
Vice President Mohadi commended the ongoing preservation efforts at the Tongogara site, describing it as an essential landmark in the nation’s journey to independence.
He emphasized that such initiatives not only honor the memory of liberation heroes but also strengthen bilateral relations with neighboring countries that provided sanctuary and support during Zimbabwe’s armed struggle.
Deputy Minister Chido Sanyatwe, who led the Ministry’s delegation, said the visits were not only about remembrance but also about cultural diplomacy and regional cooperation.
“The liberation war is a shared history between Zimbabwe and these sister republics,” she said. “By preserving these sites, we create opportunities for cultural exchange, tourism, and economic cooperation.”
Her remarks echoed the government’s broader vision to integrate liberation heritage into Zimbabwe’s cultural tourism strategy, creating a network of historically significant sites that can attract both local and international visitors while fostering patriotism among the youth.
The Vice President concluded the tour by calling on all Zimbabweans to embrace their history as a cornerstone for national unity and progress.
“Our independence was not handed to us; it was won through sacrifice and bloodshed. These sites remind us of where we come from, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that the legacy of our liberation is never forgotten,” he said.
The whirlwind tour marked another significant step in Zimbabwe’s ongoing efforts to institutionalize its liberation war history, not as a relic of the past, but as a living heritage that continues to shape the nation’s identity, diplomacy, and development trajectory.
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