War-Era Bones and Ammunition Discovered in Hippo Valley
CHIREDZI — Human remains believed to be those of liberation war fighters have been discovered in an abandoned mine shaft at Dreamgate Mine in Hippo Valley, Chiredzi.
The shocking find, which also included rifles, grenades, and live ammunition, comes 45 years after Zimbabwe attained independence, reigniting calls for the dignified burial of missing freedom fighters.
The remains were uncovered by mine workers inspecting a shaft estimated to be 20 to 30 meters deep.
Dreamgate Mine Director Enock Shonhiwa confirmed the discovery, explaining, “At the bottom part of this mineshaft is where we started discovering human bones, skulls, and clothes, then we alerted the police immediately.”
Masvingo Provincial leadership, traditional leaders, and war veterans visited the site on Monday to assess the situation.
Many expressed concern that the remains could belong to liberation war heroes.
One war veteran remarked, “This mineshaft looks like an abandoned one from many years ago. This incident reminds us of how heartless the Rhodesian forces were because the guns which were discovered are the same type of guns we used to use during the liberation struggle.”
Among the items recovered were four AK-47 rifles, two rifle grenades, an assortment of grenades, and 200 live rounds of ammunition for light machine guns.
According to ZBC, Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Ezra Chadzamira, confirmed that the government is working with the police, army, and the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) to ensure the remains are given a proper burial.
“We came here to map forward a practical implementation plan regarding this discovery… to ensure that they get decent burials,” he noted.
Chief Tshovani stressed the importance of honouring the fallen.
“The fallen heroes and heroines of this land should be properly buried. That is the least we can do to honour the sacrifice they made for our country,” he emphasized.
War veterans present at the site appealed for government support to help engage communities and traditional leaders in uncovering more such sites.
“We want to appeal for resources from the government… so that we can establish more about this incident,” one veteran added.
Southern Region Director of NMMZ, Mr Lovemore Mandima, outlined the next steps in the investigation.
“We need to take a very systematic approach towards confirming the nature of the site. We need to do a bit of mapping, oral interviews with the communities around, dating back to the times of the liberation struggle,” he explained.
The discovery adds urgency to the government’s ongoing programme to honour fallen heroes and immortalize liberation war shrines across the country.
As investigations continue, the nation watches closely, hoping for closure and justice for those who gave their lives for Zimbabwe’s freedom.
