Zimpapers Logo

Freeman Razemba-Senior Reporter

SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed heartfelt gratitude to Zimbabwe for its support in exhuming and repatriating the remains of 16 former freedom fighters who laid their lives during the struggle against the Apartheid regime.

In Zimbabwe, the exhumation, which started early last month, marked a significant chapter in the historical narrative of the liberation movements in Southern Africa.

The fallen heroes, members of Umkhonto WeSizwe, were part of a smaller group of veterans who participated in the broader regional effort to dismantle colonialism and oppression.

Of the sets of human remains, 15 were at Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare and the other at Athlone Cemetery in Bulawayo.

At the weekend, President Ramaphosa hosted a homecoming ceremony for the repatriated remains before they were handed over to their families for reburials.

The remains were received by South African government officials and family members at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria.

This was part of the South African government’s programme to bring closure to families, whose loved ones died away from home while serving in the underground structures of both the African National Congress and Pan Africanist Congress.

Speaking during the homecoming ceremony, President Ramaphosa said: “As we welcome these patriots back home, we owe our everlasting gratitude to the countries that offered these freedom fighters shelter, support and, in the end, a fitting resting place.

“We are grateful in this instance to the governments and peoples of Zambia and Zimbabwe for having taken great care of our compatriots and for enabling their remains to be repatriated.

“Like other countries on our continent — and in other parts of the world — they stood alongside us in our struggle for freedom. They hosted our freedom fighters. They provided material assistance. These countries dedicated themselves to our cause, often at a great cost to themselves and their people. Our fallen heroes and heroines became part of these sister countries.”

Before the apartheid system ended in South Africa in 1994, many activists left their country to receive military training elsewhere to return home to wage an armed struggle.

Others left their country to avoid being arrested by the apartheid regime for their involvement in anti-apartheid activities and chose Zimbabwe and Zambia where underground structures of the ANC and PAC were strongest.

After it was banned in South Africa, the ANC shifted its headquarters to the Zambian capital, Lusaka.

Many freedom fighters died in exile and were buried in those countries.

President Ramaphosa said his government was also in the process of repatriating the remains of other South Africans from Lesotho, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Angola, Russia and other countries.