By Thandiwe Garusa
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for the repatriation of Chimurenga war heroes’ remains from Britain to be interred in “a dignified manner”.
The remains of prominent heroes including Mbuya Nehanda, Sekuru Kaguvi and other leaders of uprisings against colonial rule Chief Makoni Chingaira, Chief Mapondera and Chief Chinengundu Mashayamombe are believed to have been taken to Britain as war trophies and are being used for research.
When a Zimbabwean delegation visited the UK in 2022 looking for the skulls of late-19th Century anti-colonial heroes, London’s Natural History Museum and Cambridge University said they were ready to cooperate with Zimbabwe to return the human remains.
Addressing mourners at the funeral of the late hero Jaison William Chezhira Chakaipa Chirinda, on Monday, Mnangagwa said the trauma of colonialism needs to be addressed through Britain’s recognition of past injustices and the return of the remains of Zimbabwe’s heroes’ remains, which were taken during the colonial era.
“We remind the British Government and people that the spirits of our heroes will not rest until their remains are repatriated and interred in a dignified manner.
“Going forward, we urge the British Government to return the remains of our people to Zimbabwe,” he said.
This follows his recent call for colonial reparations and an apology from Britain.
Added Mnangagwa, “Last week, I was privileged to launch a study initiated by the Zimbabwe National Elders Forum titled: ‘Land Displacements: The Untold Stories of Crimes, Injustices, Trauma, and Losses Experienced by Indigenous Zimbabweans During the Colonial Era (1890 to 1980), A Case for Reparations.’
“I applaud our elders for this great initiative that will document the suppressed and untold stories of the injustices, trauma, and loss of lives as well as livelihoods suffered at the hands of the British government and its settlers.
“We demand an apology and reparations from the British Government.”
Meanwhile, Mnangagwa assured the government’s commitment to compensate former white farmers whose land was taken during the land reform program, while telling the British government that it must also accept responsibility and not remain indifferent to the demands of Zimbabweans for justice.
“The Second Republic is forthright in accommodating compensation for white former farmers regarding improvements they made on the land redistributed by the state.
“We call upon the British government, whose predecessor governments were responsible for pillaging and brutalizing us, to take responsibility and not remain indifferent to the cries of Zimbabweans for justice.”
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