ZRP ready to safeguard Uhuru

police officer has said.
Addressing 245 police officers and recruits who arrived here last Friday on an educational tour, Depot commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner Grace Ndebele, on Monday said the force would not accept anything that would lead Zimbabwe into colonial bondage again.

“Let’s maintain, safeguard and protect our nation . . . we will not accept anything that will lead to the country being colonised again,” she said.
The officers visited shrines where some of Zimbabwe’s freedom fighters were killed during the liberation struggle were buried. Snr Asst Com Ndebele, who is the head of the delegation, said the officers and recruits had the chance to see the brutal attack perpetrated by the Rhodesian forces during the liberation struggle.

“You should now go and preach to others back home what you have seen here in Zambia,” she said.
Snr Asst Com Ndebele lauded her Zambian counterparts for the support they continued to give during tours. It is the second time this year that the ZRP has visited Zambia.

“We are one people. When we fought the liberation struggle you also fought with us and that is why we want to thank you for continuing to support us,” she said.
Zambia police service Assistant Commissioner Alfred Nhawa urged the ZRP officers to remain patriotic and disciplined.
“The independence you obtained did not just come on a silver platter, young men and women died for you. Now you have come here to see and witness for yourselves.

“These young men and women achieved the freedom struggle and now it’s for you (ZRP officers and recruits) to achieve the economic struggle,” he said. Asst Comm Nhawa said the situation was different with Zambia since they did not go to war to be independent.
“Yours was not a one day war it took many years and that is why we are saying a country without history is like a tree without roots,” he said. Assist Comm Nhawa urged officers to protect the authority bestowed on them and not to abuse it.

“You should also respect the people you police because they are your masters,” he said.
Over the weekend the officers visited Nampundwe and freedom liberation shrines in Lusaka province were remains of Zimbabwean fighters were buried. Zimbabwe National Museum and Monuments official Mr Lovemore Mandima said the country’s history was unique since it underwent 16 years of liberation struggle.

“This was not a joke. Some people died while others are still suffering from the effects of the liberation struggle,” he said.
Nampundwe was a transit camp where freedom fighters would pass through before being deployed or sent to other places.
“In November 1978 about 200 people were killed here at the camp after being bombed by the Rhodesian forces. There were two attacks of which the first occurred in the morning, while the other one between 3 and 4pm the same day,” he said.

The remains of the freedom fighters have since been buried in two mass graves at the camp. Mr Mandima said the camp was the headquarters of the ZIPRA forces where more than 400 freedom fighters were killed by the Rhodesian soldiers in October 1978.

He said on the fateful day there were over 30 000 people when the camp was bombed at 8am.
“It is also a unique camp because several liberation movements from Southern African countries were also housed here and operated from here during the liberation struggle.
Such countries include Angola, South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique,” Mr Mandima said. The officers held Heroes Day celebration at Mukushi liberation war shrine that is in Kabwe district.

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