Rhodes’ grave divides Zimbabweans as calls for removal grow

Calls for the removal of Cecil John Rhodes’ remains from Matobo Hills has sparked debate among Zimbabweans, with some supporting the move and others warning of its potential implications for tourism and local communities.

Speaking during the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day commemorations in Mutare, Chief Senator Mutasa said chiefs from his province were united in their demand for the former British imperialist’s remains to be removed.

“As chiefs of Manicaland, we are saying Rhodes’ bones must go,” he declared.

The remarks have drawn mixed reactions online, with questions raised about regional representation, colonial history and the economic value of the burial site.

One commenter, @Frank Bekezela Mpofu, argued that Matabeleland should not be conflated with Manicaland, while @Prince Sandile Vodloza questioned how Rhodes’ burial in Matobo affected people from the eastern province.

Others focused on the potential economic consequences of removing the remains.

“… that statue it can give us foreign currency, its a tourist attraction it create employment,” @Reggie Maf commented.

Another commenter, @Leonard Mazodze, similarly argued that the site attracts tourists and generates income.

However, some supported Mutasa’s position, with @Honesty Inno Chenjerai pointing to South Africa’s removal of Rhodes’ statue as evidence that colonial-era symbols can be reconsidered.

Who was Cecil John Rhodes?

Rhodes was a British businessman, mining magnate and politician who played a major role in British colonial expansion in southern Africa.

He founded the British South Africa Company, which was instrumental in the colonisation of territories that became Zimbabwe.

He also served as prime minister of the Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896.

Rhodes died in Cape Town on 26 March 1902.

According to South African History Online, he had requested in his will to be buried at World’s View in the Matobo Hills, where he was laid to rest in April that year.

His legacy remains controversial because of his imperial ambitions and the dispossession of African communities associated with colonial rule.

Tourism versus colonial legacy

Matobo Hills is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its distinctive granite formations, ancient rock art and cultural significance.

The dispute raises questions about how Zimbabwe should balance confronting its colonial past with preserving historical sites that may also support tourism.

In South Africa, the Rhodes Must Fall movement culminated in the removal of his statue at the University of Cape Town on 9 April 2015.

However, removing a statue and relocating human remains are different processes, and the latest call does not itself establish that Rhodes’ grave will be moved.

The debate continues to highlight differing views on how Zimbabwe should remember its past while considering the interests of communities connected to its heritage sites.