Vusumuzi Dube
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
TWO thousand veterans of the liberation struggle including war collaborators from the country’s ten provinces are set to be conferred with independence medals at the forth coming Heroes Day commemorations set for 12 August.
With 14 May of every year having been set aside for the national honours and awards conferment ceremony, and given the exigencies that prevented the holding of the same on the designated day, the honours and awards conferment ceremony will be held as a joint event with the heroes commemoration, as in previous years.
This was revealed by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere in a post-cabinet briefing on Tuesday afternoon while giving an update on the preparations for the 2024 Heroes Day commemorations and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day celebrations.
“The National Heroes Day will be commemorated on 12 August 2024, at the National Heroes Acre in Harare, with provinces simultaneously holding commemorations in their respective jurisdictions. Preparations for the events are at an advanced stage.
“To date, the number of national heroes and heroines countrywide stands at 213, with 198 interred at the national shrine. The Defence Forces Day will be celebrated on 13 August 2024 at Rufaro Stadium in Harare under the theme, ‘Guaranteeing a Conducive Environment for Attainment of Vision 2030’,” said Dr Muswere.
He said prior to this, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces will carry out community assistance projects from 5 to 9 August 2024, and the completed projects will be handed over to the communities.
“The Zimbabwe Defence Forces will also carry out a week-long medical outreach during which they will offer free consultations and treatment for minor ailments. Preparations for this event are also at advanced stage.
“The 14 day of May every year was set aside for the national honours and awards conferment ceremony, and in view of the exigencies that prevented the holding of the same on the designated day, the honours and awards conferment ceremony will be held as a joint event with the heroes commemoration, as in previous years,” said Dr Muswere.
He however said starting next year, a separate conferment ceremony will be held on the stipulated date, with the nomination process already underway.
The conferment of medals on those that exuded valour and humanitarianism by selflessly dedicating themselves and performing outstandingly in various fields is meant to immortalize and memorialise the individuals for honourably serving the nation in certain distinct ways.
“Of particular note is that at this year’s heroes and defence forces days, there shall be conferment of six awards, namely: The Royal Order of Munhumutapa where one person will be honoured; order of the Star of Zimbabwe where one person will be honoured; the Gold Cross of Zimbabwe where two individuals will be honoured
“the Silver Cross of Zimbabwe where two individuals will be honoured; the Commendation Medal where one person will be honoured; and the Independence Medals to Veterans of the Liberation Struggle including War Collaborators where 2 000 are set to be honoured across the ten provinces,” said Dr Muswere.
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