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Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Layout plans for the Battle of Chinhoyi Shrine — which include a museum, monument and an upgraded mass grave to chronicle the 1966 battle, which marked the beginning of the Second Chimurenga — have been finalised. The battle claimed the lives of seven gallant fighters, who were ambushed by Rhodesian forces.

Speaking during a recent tour of the site, around what is now the modern-day Chinhoyi Provincial Heroes Acre, National Museums and Monuments chief curator Mr Kundishora Chipunza said the integrated theme park will include walk-and-drive-through sites for tourists.

“This was particularly chosen because it falls within the Chinhoyi Seven Battle site and it helps to theme-out presentations,” he said.

“The first component is the museum, and the current one will be upgraded and revamped to meet the expectations of what we want to do.

“We will have a monument at the exact spot where the seven fighters died together. The monument will connect with the mass grave site, which is about five kilometres away.”

Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Webster Shamu said Zimbabwe’s history should be well documented.

“There is a lot that we can gain from people like Father Ribeiro in terms of chronicling the history of our country,” he said.
“Some people have died with valuable information on our history, including the late (Josiah) Tungamirai and (General Vitalis) Zvinavashe.”

Minister Shamu said the National Museums and Monuments should move quickly to implement the project and come up with bill of quantities to ensure that well-wishers contributed.

The park will also have a field museum, with plaques erected for each of the seven heroes who have since been bestowed national hero status.

It would offer visitors an opportunity to know more about the battle and the characters involved.
The seven comrades who perished during the Chinhoyi Battle were Cdes Simon Chin’ozha, David Guzuzu, Godwin Manyerenyere, Christopher Chatambudza, Godfrey Dube Matsikidze, Arthur Maramba and Sawana Mutendadzamera.

Historian and Roman Catholic priest Father Emmanuel Ribeiro, who played a major role in researching the 1966 battle and locating the relatives of the seven heroes, said it was not an easy task.

“I knew some of the things about the seven heroes and also that a lot of misinformation was going around and in some cases the information was now being repeated as the truth,” he said.
“This prompted the research to set the record straight.”