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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Staff College (ZSC) will next month meet ex-Zipra freedom fighters and people who witnessed battles against Rhodesian Forces in Hwange District to get an account of major battles fought in the area.

The programme is aimed at collecting first-hand accounts of the war, which are then documented into history before the battlefronts are declared national monuments.

ZSC Deputy Commandant, Group Captain Winnie Mandeya, said the event would be held on April 24 at Sidobe Primary School on the outskirts of Victoria Falls.

She said the main purpose of the programme is to get first-hand accounts of battles and events during the war which are then documented as part of history before such battle areas are declared national monuments.

“As Staff College we have a time when we do low intensity operations. Previously we were doing it theoretically but now we identify major battles that were fought during the war of liberation in various parts of the country and visit them,” said Dept Commandant Mandeya.

She said the process involves identifying witnesses of major battles and those who were involved in the battlefront as well as traditional leaders to give an account of events.

“This is part of history which we document as it helps in reminding people especially the young generation about the struggle for liberation,” said Dep Commandant Mandeya.

The programme involves identifying battlefronts countrywide and this time focus is on Sidobe area where Zipra forces had an encounter with the Rhodesia Front soldiers whose war plane they shot down at Jafuta. Dep Commandant Mandeya said they had identified some individuals who will give account of wars fought by Zipra forces in the Zambezi Valley.

The previous event was held in Masvingo province, she said.

Minister of State for Matabeleland North Province Cain Mathema will be guest of honour while members of the Joint Operating Committee and local leadership will attend.

Foreign students who are studying at the Staff College will also be part of proceedings.

A local organising team has been set up to prepare for the day.

— @ncubeleon