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A Tribute to forgotten heroes - lest we forget
Zimbabwe Liberators Platform (ZLP)
August 11, 2003

Zimbabwe today remembers and honours the thousands of people who sacrificed their lives to bring independence to Zimbabwe. While we honour the known "national heroes", thousands of gallant fighters who were captured by Rhodesian forces, executed and buried in prison cemeteries remain buried in these sites countrywide.

Rhodesian forces sentenced to death thousands of freedom fighters for their involvement in political activity during the liberation struggle. Many were charged under the notorious Law and Order Maintenance Act (LOMA), now still existing as the Public Order and Security Act (POSA). Thousands of these fighters were executed and buried in prisons.

Now 23 years after independence, the remains of these gallant fighters remain in prison grounds. The post independence government has not rehabilitated the remains of these freedom fighters and they therefore still carry the label "terrorist" because they died "terrorist". Nothing has been done to acknowledge the role they played in freeing the country and as Zimbabweans, how could we celebrate Heroes Day with a clean conscience without paying tribute to these forgotten heroes.

The Zimbabwe Liberators Platform (ZLP) is concerned with the rehabilitation and honour of the deceased and forgotten freedom fighters. The nation should honour and recognise them. In the same vain, thousands of people lie buried in mass graves countrywide and the government has not even bothered to convert these burial sites into national shrines to acknowledge these people.

The following is a list of some of the forgotten heroes who were buried in prisons during the liberation struggle These are simply names that the ZLP has collected, thousands of people disappeared following their arrests by the Rhodesian Police or other security forces and their whereabouts and status are unknown up to this stage. ZLP’s efforts to get more details and names of the people who were buried in prisons were in vain as the Zimbabwe Prisons authorities were reluctant to release the information. The list is not in any order of importance.

The following were executed and buried in the Mid 1970s at Khami Maximum Prison:

  • George Mututsi
  • Michael Zikari

The following were executed and buried at Salisbury Prison - Now Harare Central Prison in 1978:

  • Victor Mlambo
  • Dhlamini

The following were executed and buried at Chikurubi Maximum Prison

  • Clever Mabonzo - 1965
  • Christopher Nyandoro - 1973
  • Amon Sibanda - 1973
  • Richard Robson - 1973
  • Ishe Guramatang a- 1973

The following is a list of 137 convicted political prisoners sentenced to death and executed in 1967 and those hanged under LOMA and on political grounds and after the introduction of secret hangings in Rhodesia in 1975. On 21 April 1975, the Smith Regime announced that with immediate effect all executions would be carried out in secret. These freedom fighters were buried in unspecified prisons. This is only a list of few freedom fighters executed during the liberation struggle and what the ZLP has so far managed to get. According to the International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) fact sheet published in 1979 listing the names of 1 839 convicted political prisoners, detainees and restrictees, there were more political prisoners in Rhodesia than ever before.

The following were sentenced to death and hanged in 1967:

  • John Goya
  • Jairosi Chisadza
  • Walter Maposa

The following were sentenced to death in 1975 and their appeals were subsequently dismissed:

  • Banya Tsauke
  • Unnamed prisoner
  • Unnamed prisoner
  • Maxwell Nyamandu
  • Chiwiye Mafundiro
  • Elly Wachiona (20)
  • Hebert, Kariba Tobias
  • Unnamed prisoner
  • Unnamed prisoner
  • Benson Ncube
  • Robbie Nyambabvu
  • Chiresa Wayeni
  • Shadreck Machisa (30)
  • Elliot Dube (22)
  • Reza Nyamarupa (18)
  • Ignatius Moto (17)
  • Brantino Pikili Rekisi Ncube

The following were sentenced to death in 1976 and their appeals were subsequently dismissed:

  • John Hlengani (65)
  • Patrick Kumbukayi (18)
  • Kenneth Nyakudya (19)
  • Good Kanokunda (22)
  • Ben Gibson
  • Christopher Nhiri
  • Plan Gwede (20)
  • Luckson Tiriboyi (23)
  • Ponias Shava (19)
  • Mashama Sibilisios (37)
  • Steven Chapungu (30)
  • N Chikunguru
  • Crispen Makombe
  • Naison Marimo
  • Ishmael Masimba
  • Friday Mhandu
  • Elliot Muchekadirge
  • Lazerus Gahadzikwa (20)
  • Isaak Gwaze (17)
  • Phillimon Darlington Kanyasa (23)
  • Basopo Munyama
  • Rodreck Tikabva
  • Luke Bumhira (30)
  • Nisa Gurupati (20)
  • Peterson Guva (24)
  • Godson Chinyadza (21)
  • Jani Nyamwati
  • Lameck Makanei Mukwikwe
  • Elias Madovi (30)
  • George Nyagu (22)
  • Hosea Gandiwa (29)
  • Crispen Mushipe (30)
  • Moses Tsanzi (21)
  • Norman Mutovoni (21)
  • Frederick Muzikenyedzi (20)
  • Phillip Nyagu (21)
  • Cuthbert Mavunga
  • Chombile Shumba (30)
  • Enoch Vera Kizito
  • Mathias Tafirenyika
  • Stavros Tsavayo
  • Unnamed prisoner
  • Unnamed prisoner
  • Moses Masuka Masina (25)
  • Wiresi Burombo
  • Jasper Muphambara
  • Onisimo Simba Charamba (21)
  • Gilbert Matasanhura (23)
  • Nicholas Magweza or Mangura (21)
  • Rugera Matamba (20)
  • Crispen Kadenge
  • Silayi (Sly) Ndebele

The following were sentenced to death in 1977 and their appeals were subsequently dismissed:

  • Peter Dawanyi
  • Madison Dzuda
  • Tafireyi Kanyama
  • Naison Zhiwayo or Dhliwayo
  • Andrew Chikukwa
  • James Chirima
  • Fosias Hawa
  • Emmanual Mukondo
  • Kephas Ncube
  • Twoboy Katani Dube
  • Sidney Kapumba (allias Seduce Mapondera) (24)
  • Phillimon Jiriguru
  • Davison Chindiwana (19)
  • Robert Bhebhe
  • Thomas Muroyi
  • James Makaha (23)
  • Raisons Kasimbe (19)
  • Milton Mandewyike (21)
  • Martin Chiripunyana (20)
  • Rabson Mushonja (alias Mushogo, Gilbert) (26)
  • Isaac Mabika
  • Dumosani Sehlelekire
  • Pinos Zehama (33)
  • Kingwallace Chimbada
  • Kasili, Jamison
  • Talphanos Moyo
  • Sambulo Mahlatini Ndhlovu
  • Lucas Tlou
  • Chamunorwa Francis Moyo
  • Simon Mpala
  • Luta Dhlamini
  • Kenaani Nyati (50)
  • Taru Ngobeni (20)
  • Koki Ncube (alias Jabulani Ndiweni)
  • Gideon Isaac Musanhi (23)
  • Joseph Kabvura (20)
  • Joel Khumalo (23)
  • Ndoda Ndhlovu (20)
  • Valentine Kupfuyawanza (22)
  • Nicholas Ndhlovu
  • Friday Khutayi Sibanda
  • Beven Kondo (19)
  • Enoch Maguma (29)

The following were sentenced to death in 1978 and their appeals were subsequently dismissed:

  • Daniel Ndhlela
  • John Murewa (20)
  • Saveous Chigwe Hove (50)
  • Augustine Nyerenyere (26)
  • Aggrey Nyerenyere (23)
  • Reuben Donga (22)
  • Daniel Moyo (35)
  • Walter Jelemani Ncube
  • Ambrose Ndhlovu
  • Honathan Ngwizi Lubambo

The following were sentenced to death but their executions dates are unknown:

  • Martin Gonzo
  • Todd Gonzo
  • Wonder Chisvo
  • Chando
  • Mike Chimandu
  • Givus Mukunduna
  • Thomas
  • James Kadirire
  • Manyowa Kupa
  • Samuel Musonza
  • Leavit Katumba

In 1979, Benchard Katumba (19) was sentenced to death and date of his execution is unknown.

*Sources: A Report on the Political Prisoners in Rhodesia published in 1979 by the International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) in Southern Africa, National Archives and own sources.

For more about the International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF), visit www.mayibuye.org

Visit the ZLP fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

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