In the 1990s, Mafela Trust was established with a powerful mission: to honour the memory of ZPRA fighters who gave their lives during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
The Trust’s goals included identifying the names and grave sites of fallen ZPRA cadres, documenting the history of the war, constructing ZPRA war shrines, and ensuring that the sacrifices of these heroes are never forgotten.
The organisation was named after the late Lieutenant General Lookout Khalisabantu Vumindaba Masuku, known by his war name Mafela, meaning “he who has already fallen.”
By 1999, Mafela Trust had estimated that approximately 2,500 ZPRA guerrillas had died in the war and had identified around 1,078 grave sites across Zimbabwe. Among these were the graves of 35 ZANLA fighters in Kezi and 16 Umkhonto weSizwe combatants
Since we began compiling the ZPRA Liberation Archives, we have received numerous messages from families seeking answers about missing loved ones. In response, we recently uncovered a list, compiled by Mafela Trust, in an archive in South Africa.
Starting this month, we will begin publishing these names in the Yithi Laba newsletter, a small but meaningful step towards helping families find closure, reconnect with their history, and preserve the memory of those who never returned home.
List of Fallen ZPRA and ANC Fighters
The following lists of ZPRA and ANC fighters who died during the liberation war were compiled by Mafela Trust.
Each entry follows the format: real name (or a dash if unknown), followed by war name (in brackets, or a dash if unknown), and details of circumstances of death, burial site, home area, and next of kin (NOK).
A
-AMBROSE: died 1978 in Dandanda area, Lupane. Believed to have been poisoned with other comrades. Home details not yet known.
-ATWELL: died April 1978 in Gobwa area, Vic Falls, in battle with Rhodesian forces. His body presumed taken by the enemy. Home details not yet known.
-ADAM: died 1978 at Shaba School, Tsholotsho, in battle with Rhodesians, and was buried by people in the area. Home details not yet known.
-ADAM: died 1978 at Mandiya, Zambezi River, in battle with Rhodesians while crossing from Zambia for operations. Home details not yet known.
-AMON: died 1978 in Guruve (Sipolilo) in battle with Rhodesians and buried in the district. Home details not yet known.
-AMOS: died 1978 at Mandiya, Zambezi River, in battle with Rhodesians while crossing from Zambia for operations. Home details not yet known.
B
BHEBIE HEBRON (-): died Jan. 24 1970 in Vic Falls area. Captured with two other comrades by RAR. Refused to point out their base. Enemy shot them dead on the spot. His body was taken away. Bhebhe was in a unit of 20 guerillas who crossed from Zambia on New Year’s Day 1970. Operated in Vic Falls area until he died. From Filabusi – NOK not yet known.
– BUNDU: died October 1978 at Ndlovu camp, Vic Falls area, in baule after encirclement by Rhodesian forces. His body was taken away. Operated in Vic Falls area. Home details not yet known.
-ABRAHAM: died 1967 at Mabhongani, Tsholotsho, in battle with RAR. His body was burnt there by the enemy. His unit fought one of the first fierce battles in the early stages of the liberation war. Home area not yet known.
ВНЕВНЕ JIMMY (- NDLOVU): died 1968 at Mpilo Hospital, Bulawayo. Captured in Hurungwe in 1968, transferred to Bulawayo and tortured to death. Body was taken by the enemy. from kezi district, NOK is Bhebhe Siyeleba.
-BROWN: died 1979 at Kazungula, Vic Falls, in a battle with Rhodesians. Home details not yet known. Buried in Kazungula area.
-BROWN: died 1978 in Sipolilo District in battle with the Rhodesian forces. Buried there. Home details not yet known.
– BROKEN JAMPIE (ANC): died 1967 in Sipolilo in battle with the Rhodesian forces. Buried there. Home details not yet known.
-BUSH: died 1979 at Namande, Mberengwa, in battle with Rhodesian helicopters and ground forces. Operated in Beitbridge and Mberengwa districts 1978-79 was in a unit of 13. Home details are not yet known. Buried in Namande area.
– BLACK: died 1979 in Namande area, of Mberengwa, during battle with the Rhodesian helicopters and ground forces. Operated in Beitbridge and Mberengwa districts 1978-79.Buried in Namande area he was in a unit of 13. Home details are not yet known.
– BUROMBO: died 1978 in Namande area, Mberengwa, during battle with the Rhodesian helicopters and ground forces. Operated in Beitbridge and Mberengwa districts in 1978-79. Buried in Namande area. Home details not yet known.
– BIG BIG: died 1979 in Namande area, Mberengwa, in battle with Rhodesian helicopters and ground forces: Operated in Beitbridge and Mberengwa districts in 1978-79. Buried in Namande area. Home details are not yet known.
-BATSHI: died 1979 in Namande area, Mberengwa district, when Rhodesian ground and air forces attacked his unit at Mhuru’s kraal. Buried in a mass grave at Namande. Home details are not yet known. Operated under Magoma Shacks in 1979.
-BALOYI MAJOR: Killed 1978 in Nyagara mine. Buried at Nyagara by locals. Trained in Morogoro, Tanzania, in 1975-76 had been deployed in Dete area for operations. Home area unknown
BANANA: died in battle in Jimila area, Tsholotsho. His body was taken by Rhodesians. Operated in Tsholotsho district. Home details not yet known.
BULL JOHN: died in battle with Rhodesians in Mbamba area, Tsholotsho, in 1976. His grave lo- cation is unknown. Killed on his way to Botswana. Home details not yet known.
BHIZA: died between 1978-79 in Tshaba area, Tsholotsho, during battle with Rhodesian forces. Buried in Plumtree district. Home details not yet known. Operated in Tsholotsho district.
– BORABORA: died August 1978 at Mqalweni area, Tsholotsho, during battle with Rhodesian forces. Grave is in Mqalweni. Operated in Mangutanyama and Mwalweni. Home details not yet known.
-BHEBHE: died 1978 in Silwane area, Lupane, in battle with Rhodesians, Buried in the area by locals. Operated in Lupane district. Home details not yet known.
-BENZUMA: died 1978 in Sindombe area, Nkayi, when his hand grenade accidentally exploded in a passenger bus. Buried in the area. Home details not yet known.
– BONWELL; died 1978 at Bodaboda area, Nkayi in battle with the Rhodesian forces. Body taken by enemy to Nkayi. Home details not yet known.
-BEST: died 1978 at Kariba in contact with Rhodesian forces. Body taken by enemy. Home details not yet known.
-BOND: died 1979 in Vuti West in battle with the Rhodesian forces. Buried in the area. Operated in Vuti West. Home details not yet known.
– BISHINGA QUBE: died 1977 in Garanyemba TTL, Gwanda, in battle with Rhodesian forces after his unit had destroyed machines and vehicles at Colleen Bawn Mine. Buried in Garanyemba where he operated in 1977.
– BEUY: died 1977 at Manama Nyabezi Bengo No. 6, Gwanda, in battle with Rhodesian forces. Buried in the area. Home details not yet known.
-BENARD JABULANI: died 1978 in Zambia in battle with the enemy. Buried in Zambia.
– BESTER: died 1978 at Roma camp, Zambia, in battle with Rhodesian forces. Buried at FC in Zambia.
-BAZOOK: died 1979 at Kazangarare area, Hurungwe, in battle with enemy forces. Buried in the area. Home details not yet known.
Thank you Mr Ndebele and team
My brother Eric Dube left to join ZIPRA in August 1977 from Bulawayo. He was a student at St Benards Secondary school in Pumula Bulawayo. I got information from one ex-ZIPRA cadre that he died in Solwezi Zambia around 1978/79 from injuries sustained from a truck accident. I would be happy to receive information confirming this or denying this from this that may have insight into it. I would also like to know more about him in the ZIPRA.
My name is Peter lolaka
I take it upon myself to find out my home boys and girls who sacrificed their lives in order to free the this country
Although we did we did not get wat we excepted
All was not a lost cause
Wat sacrifice above life can someone give
I am still collecting names of fallen heroes from mashumba and ratanyana for a start
We will never bring them back but to remember them in their sacrifice
My brother, Marvelous Ngulube, left home on 3 January 1979 to join ZANLA from Don Bosco. We have pieces of information that the recruits and group of fighters were ambushed and killed in the Nyamhondo area. No details at all. He never returned after the war. Presumed dead. No records in the Sunday News or Herald 1980-1982 that compiled some lists of the fallen. Anyone who could have details of skirmishes in the area up to April 1979 could be of help.