The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Correspondent
ZIMBABWE will forever cherish sacrifices made by neighbouring countries during the country’s struggle for Independence, Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has said.
She said this yesterday in Luangwa district, Zambia, during the 45th anniversary of the Kavalamanja Battle. The commemorations are held annually in March to honour the freedom fighters and members of the Zambian Defence Forces who fought and perished in the battle against Rhodesian security forces in 1978.
Sensing defeat, the Rhodesians resorted to indiscriminate cross-border raids targeting freedom fighters’ bases in neighbouring countries to exert pressure on the countries that hosted the combatants.
In her address at the commemorations, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said: “It will be remiss for any account of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle not to mention the pivotal role played by neighbouring states that were also known as the Frontline States, namely, Angola, Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia.”
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri noted that the countries to first gain independence in the region at the time were driven by the desire to see the entire Southern African region liberated from colonialism.
“The states were bound together by an unbreakable bond of conviction, resolve and desire for the liberation of Southern Africa as guided by the Lusaka Manifesto of 1969,” she said.
For their solidarity with Zimbabwe and other countries that were still under the yoke of colonialism, countries in the region were not spared from attacks by the colonial regimes.
“You bore the brunt of cross-border raids and pre-emptive strikes by the settler regime, which were targeting rear bases of Zimbabwe freedom fighters,” she said.
During these incursions, Rhodesian forces indiscriminately attacked Zambia’s economic infrastructure, access routes and civilians.
The two-day Kavalamanja Battle took place on March 5 and 6, 1978, when Rhodesian forces attacked the ZIPRA launchpad base for its Northern Region Front that covered Kanyemba and Guruve, among other areas.
Twenty-six Zambian soldiers, 28 freedom fighters and 11 civilians died during the battle, while the invading Rhodesians lost military aircraft. After Independence, a decision was made by governments of the two countries to honour the fallen heroes by holding commemorations each year.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri jointly commissioned the Kavalamanja Memorial School with her Zambian counterpart, Minister Ambrose Lufuma. Zimbabwe contributed in the construction of a two-classroom block at the school. Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri was accompanied by Primary and Secondary Education Minister Evelyn Ndlovu and senior Government officials.
Zambia’s Minister of Defence Mr Ambrose Lufuma was guest of honour at the event.
