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Conrad Mupesa  Mash West Bureau

THE successful implementation of the exhumation policy being crafted by the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) is expected to help bring closure to the families of the deceased former liberation war fighters and victims of post-independence political disturbances. 

NMMZ seeks to facilitate the identification of mass graves of the liberation struggle (1890-1979) and post-independence clashes in Zimbabwe and regulate the process of opening the graves of the victims of pre and post independence. 

This is aimed at protecting the graves against random exhumation and exploration.

The policy also aims to prescribe standards for the exhumation and identification of the victims buried in mass graves and their return to their next of kin where possible. 

Ceremonies befitting their sacrifices and cultural beliefs will be conducted. 

Speaking in Chinhoyi yesterday during an all-stakeholders consultative meeting on the management of post-conflict mass graves and human remains, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, said the exercise would give closure to families, whose loved ones experienced extra-legal, arbitrary and summary executions at the hands of the Rhodesian regime during the liberation struggle. 

“Despite the long post-independence history of exhumations, there has been no policy concerning the exhumation and reburials of liberation war victims,” she said. 

“This is, therefore, an important task ahead of us, as the successful drafting and implementation of the Exhumation Policy will give families and relatives of the deceased the right to recover the remains of their loved ones so that they can conduct customary funeral rites, mourn the dead and heal emotionally.

“The task also resonates well with the concept of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission which we launched here in Mashonaland West last month. 

“Though this exercise has been long overdue, it is better late than never. We hope that this policy will bring a lasting solution to this all-important matter in the history and future of our motherland.” 

Minister Mliswa-Chikoka applauded President Mnangagwa for the initiative. 

NMMZ eastern regional director, Dr Paul Mupira pleaded for enough funding for exhumations from the Government. 

He said NMMZ, which falls under the Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Ministry, would avail assistance to communities in designing and erecting memorial sites at mass grave sites. 

The policy would allow primary and secondary methods of identification using different lines of evidence ranging from testimonies, archives, archaeology, osteology and the spiritual realm to allow a targeted approach to identification.