Vice President Kembo Mohadi has arrived in Luanda, Angola, on a special mission to pay homage to Zimbabwean liberation fighters who lost their lives on Angolan soil during the country’s long struggle for independence.
He landed at Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport on Sunday afternoon, where he was warmly received by Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Angola, Dr Thando Madzvamuse, Angola’s ambassador-designate to Zimbabwe, Baltazar Diogo Cristovao, and Angola’s Secretary of State for Administration and Finance, Osvaldo Dos Santos Varela.
Mohadi’s delegation includes Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Omphile Marupi, Institute of African Knowledge (Instak) chief executive Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi, senior Government officials, and liberation heritage experts. The size and stature of the delegation underline the importance the Second Republic places on safeguarding the liberation legacy, not only within Zimbabwe but across the region.
Mohadi’s trip is part of an ongoing Government initiative to preserve, restore, and honour liberation heritage sites at home and abroad. This is in line with the national vision of protecting the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for Zimbabwe’s freedom, while strengthening historical ties with countries that supported the liberation struggle.
Angola, like several frontline states in Southern Africa, played a pivotal role during Zimbabwe’s fight against colonial rule. The country provided sanctuary to thousands of fighters, gave military training to cadres of the liberation movements, and extended logistical support despite facing its own challenges during a protracted civil war.
Mohadi Pays Homage to Angola’s Liberation Struggle Martyrs
“Zimbabwe and Angola share a common history of struggle and solidarity. By remembering our fallen heroes here, we remind ourselves and future generations that independence was achieved at a very high cost,” a senior official in Mohadi’s delegation remarked.
During his stay in Angola, Vice President Mohadi is expected to pay a courtesy call on Angolan Vice President Esperança da Costa, in a gesture of diplomatic warmth and shared remembrance. He will also tour the historic Fortaleza Museum in Luanda, which houses artefacts and records linked to Angola’s own liberation war.
Tomorrow, the delegation will proceed to Luena in Moxico province, the site of the infamous Boma Mass Grave. It is here that more than 300 ZIPRA fighters were buried following bombings by colonial forces on 26 February 1979. The assault remains one of the most tragic episodes of Zimbabwe’s liberation war, and the burial site has since become a shrine of profound national and regional significance.
These sites serve as lasting reminders of sacrifice and resilience, binding Zimbabwe and Angola through a shared history of anti-colonial resistance and mutual support.
Mohadi in Angola to Honour Fallen Liberation Fighters
The preservation of such shrines is also tied to Zimbabwe’s development policy. Under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), its successor NDS2, and the broader Vision 2030 framework, the Government has pledged to ensure that liberation history is protected, rehabilitated, and promoted as part of national identity.
In practice, this means documenting neglected sites, restoring deteriorating memorials, and creating platforms for cultural exchange. The Angola visit will therefore not only honour the fallen but also strengthen bilateral cooperation in heritage preservation and cultural diplomacy.
Meetings with Angolan heritage authorities and senior government officials are scheduled to explore joint initiatives. The Zimbabwean delegation is also expected to engage with traditional leaders and communities in Luena to listen to their perspectives on how to maintain and promote these shared historical landmarks.
The highlight of the visit will be a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at one of Angola’s principal liberation shrines. Such symbolic gestures remain an essential part of Zimbabwe’s statecraft, underlining gratitude to host nations while reaffirming the enduring value of solidarity across Southern Africa.
Analysts note that honouring fallen fighters abroad is not merely a ritual but a conscious effort to connect the past with the future. “By returning to these sites, the Government is reminding young Zimbabweans that the freedoms they enjoy today were purchased with lives that were lost far away from home,” said a historian from the University of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s close ties with Angola stretch beyond the liberation years. Both nations continue to cooperate in defence, culture, and diplomacy within regional organisations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Mohadi’s visit therefore reinforces a partnership built on shared pain and triumph, one that remains relevant in shaping regional unity today.
As the Vice President leads the commemorations in Luena, the message is expected to resonate strongly back home: the struggle for independence did not unfold within Zimbabwe’s borders alone. It was a collective African effort, supported by nations and people who understood the common goal of defeating colonial domination.
In remembering the fallen, Zimbabwe also recommits itself to cherishing their ideals of freedom, dignity, and unity.
Source- Bulawayo24
