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Prosper Ndlovu
WHEN the Rhodesian regime established Gonakudzingwa Detention Camp nearly 50 years ago, they did not know that the place would turn out to be an oasis of knowledge about the liberation history of the country for future generations. The place remains desolate in its present form but still captures the imagination of anyone who visits it and inspires the quest for an in-depth understanding about the life, values and experiences of nationalists who spent years in the jungle in pursuit of freedom. Those who have visited the site have not only emphasised the need to preserve the place but to declare it a national monument as well.

A visit at the weekend to what remains of the camp by a group of surviving ex-detainees underscored the significance of the site.
The delegation that accompanied the surviving nationalists from the former PF-Zapu, which comprised officials from the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ), officials from the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) headquarters in Harare, Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality officers, journalists, college students and historians, listened attentively as the senior cadres narrated their political life story and how they survived the brutality of the colonial regime.

The camp, which is situated in Gonarezhou National Park about 150km off the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway at the border with Mozambique, was used by the Ian Smith government to incarcerate nationalists from Zapu during the liberation struggle.
Today a majority of the ex-detainees have grown old and some of them hardly walk without assistance.

The surviving nationalists acknowledged that they were in the twilight of their life and that their wish was to ensure that the legacy of Gonakudzingwa and other detention camps across the country was preserved for posterity.

“It is more than 40 years since we left this place. We are old now and soon we will not be there to tell this story. This place should be developed to tell the liberation story on its own,” said Cde Kissmore Kaenda from Harare.

To the surviving nationalists the site evokes memories of gloom as they remembered how the colonial government tormented them for demanding their freedom.

It was captivating at some point during the tour, to see the elderly cadres struggling to recite one of the revolutionary songs they sang at the camp.

“Anyone who comes here should understand the meaning of this place and the things we used to do here,” said Cde Killion Bhebhe from Mashonaland West.

Cde Samuel Mpofu (80) from Bulawayo said the five camps at the site should be clearly marked. He said camp one was a centre for all people while camp five was meant for coloureds and Indians.

It is believed that the camp accommodated about 500 detainees who were allowed to move within a radius of about 30 miles, risking attack by wild animals.

Lieutenant Colonel Leonard Ngwanzura from ZNA headquarters said historical sites like Gonakudzingwa were significant in military training.

“The history of the struggle is crucial in military training. It gives recruits a sense of who they are and why they should defend the country,” he said.

For Cde Zipa Ncube from Matabeleland North places like Gonakudzingwa must be protected by the State.
For Cde Joseph Kapeta (76) from Rusape in Manicaland, the camp should be spruced up and developed into a modern institution where everybody would learn about the liberation history of the country.

Students said they valued the contribution of nationalists and implored the Government to build a technical college at the site, which would be named after the camp.

Cde Million Ngwenya from Matabeleland South said Sango Border Post should be changed to Gonakudzingwa Border Post.
Voluntary researcher and political coordinator Cde Raymond Mazorodze described Gonakudzingwa as the headquarters of PF-Zapu whose story deserves to be told in full.

“It was Zapu and Zanu that liberated Zimbabwe but the contribution of Zapu does not feature in our written history. We need to recapture that because failure to do so will cause problems in future. We need to engage surviving Zipra cadres to give us the oral history of their experiences and the famous battles,” said Cde Mazorodze.

Tourism and hospitality officers said the site could be developed into a historical tourist attraction that would generate money from visitors who come to learn about the country.

Cde Reuben Marinda from Gutu in Masvingo said preservation of such sites would always remind Zimbabweans of the unity of purpose that nationalist possessed.

The only surviving female detainee at the camp, Cde Jane Ngwenya (78) from Bulawayo said: “Our history should not die and its remembrance should start from here.”

The delegation was able to visit camp one and five and could only observe cement slabs and concrete of the structures which housed the incarcerated nationalists.

They also observed remains of a round hut where VP Nkomo used to stay. On some concrete slabs were inscriptions of names of some of the occupants.

Also on site were the barbed wire and some iron poles that were used to deter detainees from escaping.
The other camps are inaccessible because they were encircled by anti-personnel landmines, most of which remain underground and active.

They also visited Mwenezi Police Camp where they were shown a private cell where late VP Joshua Nkomo was isolated for a long time.
NMMZ southern region director, Mr Lovemore Mandima said efforts were underway to declare the camp a national monument and said engagements were in progress to first of all clear the area of landmines.

Several senior Zapu leaders such as the late VP Nkomo, Joseph Msika, Josiah Chinamano and his wife, Ruth, Daniel Madzimbamuto, Stanslaus Marembo and Willie Musarurwa were some of the prominent cadres detained at Gonakudzingwa Detention Camp.