Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Hundreds of bodies from Smith era exhumed

Hundreds of bodies from Smith era exhumed
By: Our reporter
Posted: Sunday, March 13, 2011 11:43 pm

HUNDREDS of bodies have been exhumed from a disused mine in Zimbabwe which were mass-buried by the racist, apartheid Government of Ian Douglas Smith, then leader of the Rhodesian Front and Rhodesian prime minister.

The Fallen Heroes of Zimbabwe Trust exhumed more than 280 bodies from a disused mine in Mt Darwin, a town in Mashonaland Central province in Zimbabwe named after the biologist Charles Darwin.

These bodies provide evidence of massive human rights atrocities committed by the Smith led government in pre-independence Zimbabwe.

The disused mine belonged to a Germany company in Ruya village which is under Chief Kandeya in Mt Darwin.

A number of prominent politicians and ordinary people disappeared during the liberation struggle and it is hoped that the exhumation may help solve the mystery of their whereabouts.

The Chief Exhumer of the trust, Jimmy Motsi said there are still more than 400 bodies in the mine shaft.

War veterans, war collaborators and ordinary people from various provinces are in the area to assist in the exhumation.

Zimbabwe War Veterans Association Secretary General for Manicaland Province, Godfrey Chitakira said the existence of the remains show that the Rhodesian government committed genocide.

It is believed that there are more than 70 such mass graves emanating from that era, meaning that over 28,000 people are unaccounted for.

This is in addition to at least 50,000 people who are believed to have been killed during the Second Chimurenga - the National Liberation Struggle.

Thousands also perished after heavy shelling by Smith's soldiers and the Notorious Selous Scouts at Zanu bases in Mozambique cities of Chimoio and Nyadzonia.

Labels: IAN SMITH, MASSACRE, RHODESIA

posted by MrK @ 2:15 AM