By Staff Reporter
ZIMBABWE is in the process of preparing to repatriate the remains of liberation war heroes from Britain.
The remains of First Chimurenga war heroes that were shipped to Europe during the early colonial period as war trophies.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Ambassador Raphael Faranisi said the repatriation process had entered its first phase.
“We have started the first phase of the process, which we hope will be done in the shortest time possible,” said Amb Faranisi.
“Recently, we met to discuss resource mobilisation and the construction of a storage facility that will help preserve the remains once repatriated.
“There will also be a formal programme for the repatriation, which will be presented to the relevant authorities for approval.
“We have consulted with traditional leaders and descendants to ensure the process respects cultural and historical sensitivities.”
He added that efforts were also underway to begin the identification of remains recently discovered in South Africa.
“All this will be done within the shortest time possible, and once completed, we will submit the recommendations to Cabinet for further guidance,” he said.
A senior official from the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ), who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that formal repatriations can now begin following approval from most of the holding museums.
“We met two weeks ago with representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Local Government,” the official said.
“The meeting was also attended by traditional leaders and descendants of the war heroes.
“We have now received confirmation from the UK museums that we may take back the remains.
“The next stage involves finalising the budget and timeline for the repatriation process.”
The remains, believed to be of First Chimurenga war heroes, were shipped as war trophies to Europe during the early colonial years.
Some of the skulls are understood to belong to early leaders of the struggle against colonialism, including Mbuya Nehanda, Sekuru Kaguvi, Chief Chinengundu Mashayamombe and Chief Makoni Chingaira.
During the colonial era, British forces beheaded many leaders of the resistance, publicly displaying their heads as a means of intimidation.
These skulls were later taken to Europe, where they were kept for study and display.
For years, Zimbabwe has lobbied for the return of these remains, viewing their continued presence in foreign institutions as a painful symbol of colonial plunder and historical injustice.
In 2019, the Natural History Museum in London submitted a detailed archival report to Zimbabwean authorities, tracing the origins of several remains in their collection.
The report, compiled by a team of British experts, relied on documentation from British and South African archives to identify the skulls and link them to known historical figures.
Zimbabwe’s repatriation effort follows similar campaigns by other African nations.
In 2018, Namibia successfully repatriated the skulls and remains of Herero and Nama tribespeople used in German racial experiments during the colonial era.
The remains were returned from German institutions, decades after the 1904-1908 genocide that claimed the lives of more than 75 000 people.
More recently, the United Kingdom returned 32 stolen gold and silver treasures to Ghana’s Asante Kingdom.
The artefacts, looted during 19th-century clashes, were returned on a six-year loan from the British Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
-Zimpapers
