Zimbabwe Vice President Pays Tribute at Zambia’s Liberation Heritage Sites
Zimbabwe’s Vice President, Honourable Kembo Mohadi, has embarked on a historic tour of Zambia’s key liberation heritage sites, honouring the sacrifices that forged unbreakable ties between the two nations during their struggles for independence.
The Vice President’s first stop was Chilenje House No. 394 in Lusaka, the modest residence where Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s founding President, lived between 1960 and 1962 while leading the independence movement.
He also visited the former Lusaka residence of Herbert Chitepo, Zimbabwe’s first black lawyer and National Chairman of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), who directed Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle from exile in Zambia until his assassination in 1975. Standing in Chitepo’s home, Vice President Mohadi described it as sacred ground, urging for its preservation as a monument to his legacy.
The tour continued to the Nampundwe and Chikumbi liberation sites, where colonial forces carried out mass killings in attempts to crush movements operating from Zambian soil. Reflecting on these tragedies, Vice President Mohadi said: “Our relationship is written in blood. We are so united that our blood is here on Zambian soil.”
Mr Kagosi Mwamulowe, Acting Executive Director of the National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC), emphasised the importance of protecting these sites. He revealed that more than 60 liberation heritage sites have been identified across Zambia, with assessments under way to secure National Monument status.
He also highlighted ongoing collaboration between Zambia and Zimbabwe under a Memorandum of Understanding on heritage conservation.
During the liberation era, Zambia under Dr Kaunda’s leadership provided sanctuary, training, and logistical support to freedom fighters from across Southern Africa, despite relentless attacks from colonial and apartheid regimes. Sites such as Chilenje House, Chitepo’s residence, Nampundwe, and Chikumbi remain enduring symbols of solidarity, resilience, and sacrifice.
Vice President Mohadi’s visit served both as a commemoration and a reminder that the freedoms enjoyed today were hard-won through immense sacrifice. It reinforced the shared duty of Zambia and Zimbabwe to preserve this heritage for generations to come.
