Mnangagwa urges Britain to right colonial wrongs with apology and reparations

By Costa Nkomo

HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has renewed his calls for the British government to apologise for its colonial legacy in Zimbabwe, demanding both reparations and the return of the remains of Zimbabwean heroes being kept in England.

Addressing mourners at the burial of national hero Jaison Chirinda at the National Heroes Acre in Harare on Monday, Mnangagwa insisted that the spirits of those who fought for Zimbabwe’s independence will not rest until their remains are repatriated and interred with dignity in their homeland.

“We remind the British Government and people that the spirits of our heroes will not rest until their remains are repatriated and interred in a dignified way. Going forward, we urge the British Government to return the remains of our people to Zimbabwe,” he said.

Mnangagwa further demanded an apology from Britain for what he described as “pillaging and brutalising” Zimbabweans during the colonial and liberation struggle periods.

“We demand an apology and reparations from the British Government,” Mnangagwa stated.

“The settlers tormented our leadership, including King Lobengula, who was forced into exile albeit after a heroic battlefield encounter with the settler army led by British Army Captain Alan Wilson, whilst Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi were executed by hanging for resisting colonial rule.

“Equally, the remains of our brave warriors such as Chief Chiwashira, Chief Chingaira, Chief Mapondera and Chief Mashayamombe are still held in British museums as trophies, after they were captured and killed in horrific circumstances.”

Mnangagwa, whose government recently announced plans to compensate white farmers for improvements made to land seized during the land reform program, argued that the British government should also accept responsibility for the injustices inflicted on Zimbabweans during colonialism.

“We call upon the British Government, whose predecessor governments were responsible for pillaging and brutalising us, to take responsibility and not remain indifferent to the cries of Zimbabweans for justice,” he said.

Chirinda, a prominent figure in the struggle for Zimbabwe’s independence, died on October 27th at the age of 82.