THE Government of Zimbabwe has announced plans to upgrade the Chimoio Shrine in Mozambique, in a move aimed at preserving the country’s liberation war heritage and honouring the thousands of freedom fighters who perished during the armed struggle.
This was revealed by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe, during a visit to the historic site.
The minister led a delegation that included officials from the Lotteries and Gaming Board, National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ), and the Zimbabwean Consulate in Mozambique.
Honourable Kazembe said the rehabilitation of the Chimoio Shrine is part of a broader government initiative to refurbish liberation war sites located in neighbouring countries.
“We are here as directed by His Excellency, President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, who instructed us to assess the condition of liberation shrines. Thousands of lives were lost here, and we cannot enjoy peace in Zimbabwe while these sacred places remain neglected.
“Visitors come here to pay their respects, but there are no ablution facilities, no water, and security remains inadequate. We are treating this as an urgent matter, and the Lotteries and Gaming Board has already stepped in to support this cause. We want these works completed ahead of the ZANU PF National People’s Conference in Mutare, so that delegates can appreciate the significance of this site,” he said.
The shrine, which was one of the largest rear bases of the liberation movement in Mozambique, suffered a brutal aerial and ground attack by Rhodesian forces in 1977, resulting in the massacre of thousands of Zimbabwean freedom fighters.
Lotteries and Gaming Board Vice Chairperson, Mr Costain Sabao, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming the shrine into a dignified memorial.
“As the government, through the Lotteries and Gaming Board, we are refurbishing the shrine, for it to become a dignified space of reflection for present and future generations. We promise to spruce up this shrine in a short period of time. We are going to fence the place, construct ablution facilities, and a visitor’s shelter, as well as put a solar system to pump water from a borehole and add another water tank,” he said.
Dr Paul Mupira, the Eastern Region Director of NMMZ, underscored the shrine’s historic importance.
“Chimoio Shrine was the biggest rear base in Mozambique, and a lot of lives perished here following the Rhodesian attacks. It is a place where we remember the sons and daughters who lost their lives to liberate the country. It is also remembered in history as a place where the largest number of people were killed when Rhodesian forces made incursions into neighbouring countries to destroy the liberation movements’ war machine,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s Consul General to Mozambique, Mr Malvin Bere, welcomed the development, noting the increasing number of visitors to the shrine.
“We have 16 shrines in Mozambique. We are receiving an average of 800 delegates every week from Zimbabwe. There is now consciousness on the need to visit these shrines, but without ablution facilities and water, it remains a challenge,” he said.
The Chimoio Shrine remains a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made for Zimbabwe’s independence, and its rehabilitation is expected to not only preserve history but also promote national identity and patriotism.
