“Upgrade Chimoio Shrine to Honor Liberation Heroes” – Minister Kazembe

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has urged the Lotteries and Gaming Board (LGB) to allocate resources for the renovation of the Chimoio Memorial Shrine in Mozambique.

Minister Kazembe’s appeal comes ahead of the upcoming August Heroes and Defence Day celebrations. He visited the site on Wednesday to assess its current state and identify the improvements needed.

“We are seeing many challenges here, such as lack of access to potable water and inadequate facilities for the caretakers, among other issues,” he said. “A lot needs to be done, which is why we have called on the Lotteries and Gaming Board to assist the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe with resources to upgrade these facilities. We are stepping in because we recognise the urgency of the situation.”

Responding to the Minister’s call, LGB Vice Chairperson Mr. Costain Sabau reaffirmed the board’s commitment to supporting the initiative.

“We plan to refurbish these facilities before the ZANU PF People’s Conference in October 2025,” he said. “We want to assure the Minister that we will fulfill the task he has given us. The resources will be made available.”

The planned upgrades include fencing the area, constructing new toilets and a resting shelter for visitors, and installing a solar-powered system to run the borehole.

The Chimoio Memorial Shrine holds deep historical significance as the site where more than 3,000 people were killed by Rhodesian Security Forces during a raid on a ZANLA camp in November 1977. Officials have also observed a steady increase in the number of visitors to the site.