The South African mission in Zambia will exhume the remains of 26 freedom fighters who died while seeking shelter in the country during the apartheid era.
Nomvuyo Nokwe, daughter of one of the freedom fighters, Dumalisile Philemon Nokwe, thanked the Zambian government for according the families the opportunity to repatriate the remains of their loved ones.
“This gesture shows the importance Zambia attaches to the bilateral relations shared between the two countries,” she said.
Lusaka Mayor Chilando Chitangala said the historic exhumation exercise would last three days.
Speaking at the commencement of the exercise, where she was represented by Lima Ward 30 Councillor Daniel Mwewa, Chitangala showed solidarity with the families of the fallen heroes.
She said the sacrifice of the South African Freedom fighters did not only liberate South Africa but also the other parts of Southern Africa.
“Zambia continues to share cordial bilateral relations with South Africa resulting from the shared struggles to liberate Africa from oppression, injustice, and tyranny,” she said.
National Heritage Conservation Commission representative Kenan Zulu stressed the importance of repatriating the remains of the South African freedom icons as a symbol of peace and honor to their families.
