Harare – Zimbabwe has renewed calls on Britain to repatriate the remains of 19th century warriors who rose up against colonial rule.
The move is part of mounting pressure on Western countries and museums to return African artefacts and historical pieces plundered during the colonial era by powers such as Belgium, Britain, France and Germany.
“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,” President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Monday.
Mnangagwa made the fresh call during a speech for the burial of independence hero Jaison Chirinda, who died on October 27 aged 82.
He mentioned anti-colonial hero King Lobengula, who was forced into exile, as well as Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi, who 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,” he added.
Zimbabwe believes the remains were taken to the United Kingdom as war trophies and are being used for research at Cambridge University and London’s Natural History Museum.
Two years ago, the British institutions announced that they were ready to cooperate, after a Zimbabwean delegation visited the country for talks.
While the Natural History Museum holds over 25,000 human remains, the number of pieces originating from Zimbabwe is not known.
The issue has been topical for over a decade with the British revealing that discussions on the subject began in 2014.
Mnangagwa also demanded an apology from the British government for colonial atrocities.
“We demand an apology and reparations from the British government,” he added.
British control ended in 1965, but the local white minority ruled the country then known as Rhodesia until 1980, when it was renamed Zimbabwe following a guerilla war.
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Source: AFP
Picture: X/@rabhahuma
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