Published: 2014 May 06 18:07:43 (4253 Views)

IN touchy display of respect for the country's fallen heroes, more than 60 youths aged between 16 and 25 visited the Chimoio Shrines in Mozambique where they undertook a thorough clean up of the shrines before donating clothes, blankets, groceries and cash to about five workers tending the mass graveyard.

The Chimoio massacre was a major raid conducted by the callous Rhodesian security forces at Chimoio in November 1977 at the height of the liberation struggle, leaving thousands of freedom fighters dead and thousands more wounded.

On Saturday, the youths travelled to the revered shrines, under the Ngatisimukei Youth Empowerment Association of Zimbabwe, and were under able guidance and supervision of one of the Chimoio attack survivors - Cde Machiwenyika.

Prominent Mutare businessman and Zanu-PF Central Committee member Cde Isau Mupfumi helped the youths with a bus they used while provincial member Cde Gertrude Mutandi, who travelled with the youths, was also instrumental in solving some logistical challenges during the tour until their return.

During the one night camp at the shrines, Cde Machiwenyika, who survived the ruthless November 27, 1977 Chimoio bombing, gave a harrowing narration of what transpired before, during and after the callous attack by the Smith regime, much to the melancholy of youths in attendance.

To their credit, the Ngatisimukei Youth Empowerment Association of Zimbabwe representatives at the shrine during the tour undertook a thorough clean-up of the shrine before donating clothes, blankets, groceries and cash to about five workers tending the mass grave yard – a gesture of goodwill that touched and nearly left Cde Machiwenyika in tears.

"I really want to applaud you (Ngatisimukei Youth Empowerment Association of Zimbabwe representatives) for going beyond a mere visit. Most of the groups that come here, merely do so for the sake of visiting.

"You have made a difference by going beyond that and donating your personal things to people looking after this place.

"The clean-up exercise is also commendable," said an emotive Cde Machiwenyika.

Ngatisimukei Youth Empowerment Association of Zimbabwe spokesperson Gift Nyambo said their objective was to equip youths, mainly the younger generation, with the knowledge of their past while making initiatives to create an environment to empower them.

"As an organisation we are happy with the support we are receiving from party structures and we will continue to make initiatives that will equip youths, mainly the younger generation, with the knowledge of their past while making endeavouring to create an environment to empower them.

"In the same breadth, we really want to thank businessman and Central Committee member Cde Isau Mupfumi who generously donated a bus to ferry the youths to Mozambique as well as provincial member Cde Gertrude "Mai Ruva" Mutandi,  who  also  helped  a  lot  in  solving  some  logistical  challenges  during  the  tour,"  he  said.

- Manicapost

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