NOVEMBER 23 1977 is a day that Zimbabweans must never forget.
It is a day that as a nation we must take time to remember the gallant sons and daughters of the soil who were massacred by the racist Smith regime at Chimoio in a ruthless operation codenamed ‘Dingo’.
When the Rhodesians write about it, they celebrate such a massacre that left over 3 000 comrades dead and about 5 000 wounded.
To date, Rhodesians gloat over this so-called ‘victory’.
They have penned numerous books about Operation Dingo, in the process distorting our history.
However, there are survivors of the Chimoio attack who have lived to tell horrible stories about that fateful day, exposing how heartless the Rhodesians were.
How the Rhodesians mercilessly bombed the camp, leaving no stone unturned as they say.
How they shoved comrades in boiling water and used banned weapons and poison on our comrades among other heinous acts.
And the shameful Rhodesians do not deny all this evil.
So this Sunday as we remember this genocide, we must take time as a nation to pay tribute to our fallen heroes and not forget that there are tormented souls at Chimoio.
We must remember that there are sons and daughters of the soil who never made it to see an independent Zimbabwe.
Yes there are people who survived the genocide and have lived to tell the horror.
To their credit, some have written books ensuring that they tell our side of the story for the benefit of future generations.
However there is a sad development at Chimoio.
How the Chimoio shrine is being neglected to the extent it is dilapidated.
Various groups that visited the shrines early this year returned home dejected.
They said everything is literally collapsing.
This must be a challenge to our own government.
Yes the Chimoio Shrine is in Mozambique, but it is our duty as Zimbabweans to ensure that we keep it intact.
It is our responsibility to replace the tattered flag and refurbish the dilapidating structures at Chimoio.
It is our duty to ensure that our shrine is always clean and protected.
Yes we spend a lot of money doing all sorts of things as Government, but we must remember that we have an obligation to keep our shrine in one piece.
It is sacred.
How are we going to maintain our history if Chimoio is ruined?
How are future generations going to know the injustice of Rhodesians if Chimoio is razed to the ground?
Come Sunday, it is only sensible for Zimbabweans to be present at Chimoio.
War veterans in particular once suggested that we have a bira at Chimoio.
That fellow comrades must take time, sing and dance the night away at the shrine in commemoration of our dearly departed.
True to their word, in Zimbabwe we have galas here and there whereby people spend the night singing and dancing, enjoying the independence that those lying at Chimoio never had.
Therefore a bira at Chimoio is justified.
To date, I hear strange things happen at the shrine, a clear indication that there are tormented souls at Chimoio that need to be appeased.
Let us remember that the Chimoio Shrine is sacred and it’s ours.
We must take good care of it, as much as Rhodesians take care of Cecil John Rhodes grave at the Matopos.