Zimbabwe’s veteran Journalist praises Zambia

Chief Correspondent for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), Reuben Barwe has hailed the Zambian Government for the instrumental role it played during the liberation struggle of Zimbabwe in the 1980s. Mr Barwe, who is leading a media crew from ZBC in documenting…

Chief Correspondent for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), Reuben Barwe has hailed the Zambian Government for the instrumental role it played during the liberation struggle of Zimbabwe in the 1980s.

Mr Barwe, who is leading a media crew from ZBC in documenting Zimbabwean grave sites in Zambia, of Zimbabweans who lost their lives during the liberation struggle, says the country’s extended generosity to housing the historical sites is a sign of cemented cordial bilateral relations.

Speaking when the media crew paid a courtesy call on Luangwa District Commissioner Luke Chikani, Mr Barwe expressed happiness with the current status of the graves in Kakaro and Kavalamanja in the district.

“We are grateful to the Zambian Government for refurbishing the graves with granite and a fencing that has given the sites a dignified sight,” he appreciated.

He further explained that the media crew visited other memorial and historical sites in Nampundwe, Kabwe, Chikumbi Mkushi and Mulungushi in Kabwe.

Mr Barwe explained that the documentation in Nampundwe involved a refurbishment and fencing of two mass graves, an old St. Mary’s Cemetery in Kabwe where 14 out of 15 Zambian Police were buried, and Mboroma in Mkushi, formerly called Mkushi Girls Camp where thousands of Zimbabwean girls were murdered.

He said the other documentation was at Mulungushi in Kabwe where 27 Zimbabwean officers who were training together with Zambian officers were bombed by the Rhodesians.

“We are really impressed with the refurbishment of these places that was done by the Department of Museums and National Monuments as per directive from Vice President Kembo Mohadi who recently visited Zambia during the Kavalamanja/Kakaro memorial,” he said.

He explained that this development has come with clean and safe water benefiting the communities in some sites where boreholes have been sunk by the Zimbabwean Government.

He has implored Zimbabweans to treasure Zambia as their second home citing how Zambia hosted Zimbabwe’s current President Emmerson Munangagwa, who came to this country at the age of twelve years in Nampundwe.

And Luangwa District Commissioner, Luke Chikani appreciated the presence of the ZBC media crew and acknowledged the cordial bilateral relations that exist between two countries.

Mr Chikani says Zambia is grateful to the Zimbabwean Government for constructing a Primary School in Kavalamanja as a token of appreciation for the assistance rendered to Zimbabwe during the liberation struggle.

He acknowledged that the school has been beneficial to the community in the area as children are able to access quality education.