Historical tale of Dzapasi heritage site
HISTORICAL cenotaph, Dzapasi is an important liberation heritage site, not only for the people of Buhera District, but the nation as a whole.
Having been accorded a national monument status in 2017, Dzapasi was the largest assembly point for liberation fighters established during the ceasefire in 1979. The place holds a rich history. Dzapasi joined other liberation war heritage places to be proclaimed national monuments after independence such as the national and provincial heroes’ acres and Chinhoyi Battle Site.
At the dawn of independence in 1979, several assembly points were established throughout the country to accommodate freedom fighters returning from neighbouring countries where they were taking up arms against the oppressive Ian Smith regime.
The assembly points had been agreed on as part of the Lancaster House Agreement and were huge camps where thousands of freedom fighters were congregated.
The freedom fighters were to stay in the assembly points during the 1980 election period, and until demobilisation or integration into the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF).
Some of the prominent assembly points established during that period were Manyene in Chivhu, Dendera in Mutoko, Echo in Nyanga, Chipinda Pool in Chiredzi, Gwaai River in Matabeleland North and Seira in Mutoko.
Of all the assembly points established, Dzapasi turned out to be the biggest in terms of the number of returning comrades who assembled at the base.
The nucleus of the assembly point was at Chiurwi Primary School, which had been closed in July
1976 as the war of liberation intensified.
With an abandoned school, an airstrip and a good road network, Dzapasi was an ideal location for an assembly point.
During the liberation war, the Rhodesian forces had built the gravel airstrip to serve their base at Dzapasi, then known as Fox Trot, a counter insurgency base within the Rhodesian Forces’ Operation Thrasher Front.
For this reason, Dzapasi area experienced a number of fierce battles between freedom fighters and Rhodesian forces during the armed struggle for independence.
It was at Dzapasi that the then ZANLA Commander, the late Cde Rex Nhongo, real name Solomon Mujuru and the Rhodesian
Army Commander, Bertie Barnard ceremoniously shook hands as the British flag was lowered and the Zimbabwean flag being hoisted in February 1980 to signal the beginning of a new dispensation in Zimbabwe’s politics.
This was one of the first ceremonies heralding the birth of an independent Zimbabwe and signalling the death of Rhodesian military machinery.
Thus, the military supremacy of Ian Smith’s army was formally and finally relinquished at Dzapasi.
It was on the strength of this historical value that Government on the recommendation of National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe decided to declare Dzapasi a national monument.
Although Chiurwi Primary School is now operational, there are still features around it that depict the presence of the freedom fighters more than four decades after the place had been abandoned.
National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe’s Eastern Region Director,
Dr Paul Mupira, is on record saying plans are afoot to engage various stakeholders to develop a comprehensive site management plan to proactively manage, preserve and present the site to the public.
The site is home to a district chosen as the venue for this year’s 44th Independence Day celebrations and the Children’s
Party in April.
The Uhuru carnival will be held under the theme: “Zim@44: Unity, Peace and Development Towards Vision 2030”.