Italian Chapel of Saint Francis of Assisi

Just outside the Masvingo Army Barracks in Zimbabwe’s tropical savanna sits a chapel honoring the refuge that Italian, German, and Austrian enemy aliens took there during World War II. 

The chapel was built between 1942 and 1946 mostly by Italians held at Number 5 Camp just outside of Masvingo. They were considered internees rather than prisoners of war because they were civilians.

After the war, two wings were added to the chapel, housing the remains of 71 Italian soldiers who died in the British Prison Camp of Fort Victoria, Masvingo. Today, the Roman Catholic Church uses the building for church services. Mass is celebrated each Saturday morning, and on the first Sunday in November of each year, a special memorial service is held for the Italians who died in the World Wars.