Kamungoma massacre immortalised as President unveils monument

Kamungoma massacre immortalised as President unveils monument

Nevanji MUnyuaradzi Chiondegwa

A sombre atmosphere only punctuated by the colourful dress of party faithful gripped Gutu’s Kamungoma area yesterday as thousands witnessed the unveiling of the Kamungoma War Shrine, by President ED Mnangagwa yesterday.

Kamungoma, was one of the places that bore the brunt of the dastardly acts of the Rhodesian settler regime as more than one hundred civilians and liberation fighters gathered at a pungwe were ambushed and massacred by the Rhodesian security forces.

Speaking at the unveiling of the monument, President Mnangagwa said, “Today, the Kamungoma Massacre is testimony of the extent to which the settler regime wanted to hold on to the governance space and architecture of our country, including pillaging our God-given resources. Isu vana vaMunhumutapa takaramba zvekudzvanyirirwa.”

He further said, “We are forever grateful to communities, whose political consciousness, clarity of vision and resolve saw us dismantle the white settler regime. I commend, vana Chimbwido nana Mujibha vedu, who bravely and courageously undertook dangerous missions, including the task of reconnaissance and intelligence gathering to aid our war effort. Ndinokutendai mose.”

The 14th of May 1978, remains a dark day in the country’s history as 104 innocent and unarmed civilians, as well as one guerrilla fighter, were killed. On that fateful day, the liberation war fighters as ‘the fish’ and the people ‘as water’, were at a pungwe drumming up the support and solidarity of communities as well as instilling hope for the imminent freedom, independence and liberation from colonial oppression. The indiscriminate attack saw teenagers and women, some being breastfeeding mothers, lose their precious lives. The deceased were buried in shallow mass graves. Many survivors of the callous attack still carry with them the trauma, memories, wounds and pain.

President Mnangagwa said, “These are the experiences that made us a free people and nation; a sovereign state in the comity of nations. We will never forget. Present generations are challenged to bring forward their knowledge and expertise, in whatever form, towards advancing our national development agenda right from the individual level. We have a responsibility to protect our country and the resources given to us by Almighty God. As it was in the pungwes of yester-year, our social gatherings and media platforms must preach hope, unity and the agenda of production and productivity. No one will come from elsewhere to build our country. Ngatidadei nenyika yekwedu. Ngatikoshesei nyika yekwedu.”

President Mnangagwa directed the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, as well as the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, among other stakeholders, to broaden the memorialisation of the Kamungoma Liberation War Shrine and re-model the graves of all those who were killed. He said they must be befitting of the departed brothers and sisters, while the narrations of events should equally be complete, comprehensive, and well-detailed.

He promised government support in capacitating the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe to accelerate the wide documentation, preservation, and safeguarding of the country’s history. He urged schools and universities, and general citizenry, to take a keen interest in visiting such important places for a greater appreciation of the liberation war heritage.

He also commended the leadership of Gutu District, who continue in the spirit of Devolution and Decentralisation for celebrating the National Heroes and Defence Forces Days at the sacred site of Kamungoma.

He further said, “Going forward, I challenge you to ensure that the community of Kamungoma continues to participate in the ongoing empowerment and wealth creation projects that my Administration is implementing. No one and no place must be left behind.”

The President said, “The Rhodesian settler administration’s indiscriminate violence against the black majority was motivated by the known fact that they were losing the war as the grassroots was agitating and rejecting openly racist oppression. The attack at Kamungoma was, therefore, not an isolated incident. Several attacks were unleashed on our communities, including the Hurodzavasikana here in Gutu; Nyikadzino Homestead in Hurungwe; Karima Village in Mt Darwin; Karanga Village in Murehwa; and the bombing of St Philips Secondary School in Guruve.”

He added that the heinous attacks, including those at Nyadzonya and Chiomio, did not deter the people but rather strengthened the resolve to fight on until independence and freedom was secured.

He said, “It is now our weighty responsibility to make present and future generations aware of the arduous 16 years we endured for our independence, freedom and democracy. No one must ever denigrate, belittle and defile our history, experiences and our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe. Our liberation war heritage is a lesson of our warrior nature and character as descendants of the Great Emperor Munhumutapa”

He said, “This spirit must never die. Yester-year we took up arms, today we are building our country in unity, brick by brick and stone upon stone, strengthened by the knowledge that Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhulekelwe ngabanikazi balo.”