Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
HERBERT Mine, which is famously known as Matumba Six in Mutasa South Constituency, has been declared a national monument owing to its rich liberation struggle history in which indigenous Zimbabweans were callously murdered by the brutal Rhodesian Forces.
This comes at a time when the nation is commemorating the 44th Heroes’ Day in honour of the heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives to liberate the country from colonial bondage.
Matumba Six, located just outside Mutare, stands as a solemn testament to sacrifices made during Zimbabwe’s fight for independence.
Over 600 liberation war fighters were laid to rest at the shrine after their remains were recovered from the disused mine where they were callously dumped by Rhodesian security forces.
The Manicaland Identification, Exhumation and Reburial of Fallen Heroes Trust is working tirelessly to locate and identify remains of the fallen heroes to give them a proper burial.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe last week accorded Matumba Six, and 13 other historical sites and buildings, national monuments status, given their contributions towards Zimbabwe’s independence.
He said the sacrifices and contributions by these gallant daughters and sons of the soil have shaped the history, values and progress of a free Zimbabwe.
The other monuments that were accorded national monuments status are Altena Farm (Mashonaland Central), Gonakudzingwa Detention Camp, Hanging Tree (Bulawayo), Kopje (Harare), Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South heroes’ acres.
Also declared are Somerby-Stonehurst (Zvimba), Hurodzevasikana War Memorial, residence of the late former Vice President, Dr Simon Muzenda (Mucheke, Masvingo), Germany church building and Samatumbu Site (Gutu Mission), Kamugona Massacre Site (Gutu), St Mary’s Basilica Monument and Tere raMakate (Mutoko Ruins).
MIERFHT chairman and war veteran, Cde Gift Kagweda said Matumba National Shrine serves as a powerful reminder of the brutality faced by those who dared to fight for freedom.
Cde Kagweda said reburials of fallen heroes at Matumba Six have been ongoing since 2014, during which period calls grew louder for the shrine to be accorded national status.
The Rhodesians horrendously disposed the remains of those they killed or executed during the war in the mineshafts.
Some of the remains were immersed in sulphuric acid before being dumped in the mineshafts.
The bodies were dumped with wrecks of vehicles and remains of horses that would have been destroyed or killed during combat with the freedom fighters.
Cde Kagweda said currently there are plans to merge Mutasa District Heroes’ Acre and Matumba Six Shrine since they serve the same purpose.
“The newly accorded status resonates so well with what has been happening there and our future plans. Since 2014, we have been reburying fallen heroes from various provinces at Matumba Six Shrine, making it a national monument. So the new status is befitting. Those who are buried at the shrine are, not only from Mutasa, but these are comrades whose remains were exhumed across all provinces, and the level of the current, and future developments resonate with the latest gesture. Government is very correct,” said Cde Kagweda.
He added: “At the moment, we have remains of 36 fallen heroes exhumed from Mapara area under Chief Mutasa that are in the mortuary awaiting reburial. We are planning to bury them there after the holiday. We are still mobilising resources like coffins, white clothes, hearses and preparing the graves.
“There is a lot that is happening as well as engagements to see how best we can relocate Mutasa District Heroes Acre to Matumba Six. It is very necessary as it will bring activities at the two sister sites in sync. The shrines serve one purpose, and there is enough space there, which will make logistical arrangements for interment of our heroes and heroines as well as other infrastructural and maintenance works much easier,” said Cde Kagweda.
Mutasa Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr George Bandure concurred saying the upgraded status will espouse the district’s tourism heritage.
“The upgrading of Matumba Six into a national monument has been our district’s heart-cry. We hope that as it has been so declared, it will improve on our heritage tourism,” said Mr Bandure.
The shrine is on former Premier Estate, on the foot of Chiremba Mountain near Old Mutare Mission.
It was part of Lonrho Mining Company, which used to exploit gold at the estate.
The mine was worked from 1904 to 1908 by means of a number of shafts, before being abandoned.
In 1935, the claims were re-pegged, and a new shaft was sunk by the Germans in search of the precious yellow metal, before they were recalled by Adolf Hitler to participate in the Second World War.
The Rhodesian government took advantage of the remoteness of the area, and used the disused mineshafts to dump bodies of war victims of the latter phase of the Second Chimurenga between 1976 and 1979.
Acting National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe eastern region director, Mr Lloyd Makonya said Herbert Mine is a reminder of the arduous journey endured by the sons and daughters of the soil as they fought for the liberation of the country from colonial rule, and injustice perpetrated by the settler regime of Ian Douglas Smith.
Mr Makonya said a lot of blood was shed and human life lost in pursuit of freedom, as both civilians and freedom fighters were indiscriminately butchered by the brutal settler forces.
“Herbert Mine is one of the many mass grave sites in Zimbabwe where Rhodesian Forces concealed bodies of those killed during their contact with the liberation fighters or civilians who died at their hands after being captured. The site serves to partly explain the fate of the people who went missing during the liberation war. It demonstrates that some of the people who went missing during the war were killed and dumped in mineshafts throughout the country.
“It is a sad reminder of the evils of colonial oppression, and subjugation of the will of the people to determine their own identity. The site serves as an educational tool in the instruction of the current and future generations about the history of the liberation struggle. The monument demonstrates some of the significant events bearing on the independence of this country.
“The place is the second mine mass grave site to be investigated by the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe. Comparative sites include Chibondo Mineshafts in Mt Darwin and the Butcher Site in Rusape,” said Mr Makonya.
Mr Makonya said work is underway to construct an interpretive centre where the history of the place will be openly displayed for visitors to understand.
A borehole for the steady supply of water, proper lighting and fencing of the area are also part of their long term plans to secure the facility.
