Online Reporter
Mukudzei Chingwere
Senior Reporter
FOUR liberation war stalwarts, Petros Khumalo, Shumirai Wekwete, Joseph Zethi Dube and Herbert Zaba Sambo have been declared national heroes posthumously ahead of this year’s heroes’ commemorations, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda has said.
Addressing yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Dr Soda said the 2026 Heroes Day Commemorations will be held on Monday, August 10, under the theme; “Lest We Forget”.
The main event will be held at the National Heroes Acre.
He said the Government had completed updating the names of all national heroes and heroines, which currently stands at 254, including the four whose posthumous declarations were announced following Cabinet deliberations.
“As part of the 2026 commemorations, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage has embarked on Phase 2 of the rehabilitation of Zimbabwe Liberation War heritage sites in Mozambique and Zambia,” said Dr Soda.
“Under this phase, the ministry is focusing on four sites in Mozambique (Tembue, Nyangao, Doroi and Chicualacuala) and the completion of six sites in Zambia (Freedom Camp, Nampundwe, Mkushi, Mlungushi, Kavalamanja and St Mary’s Kabwe).
“The ministry also envisages starting works on the Boma site in Angola, where a cenotaph with a roll of honour will be constructed, as well as the construction of a mass grave, ablution facilities and fencing of the site,” said Dr Soda.
He informed the nation that preparations for the 2026 Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day celebrations are underway, with the event scheduled for August 11 at Rufaro Stadium.
The theme for the celebrations will be: “ZDF: Guaranteeing Peace and Stability for the Attainment of Vision 2030.”
Key highlights, Minister Soda said, will include the ZDF Community Assistance Week, the Address by His Excellency the President, the Military Parade, Military Displays, Entertainment by Civilian Groups and ZDF Sports Day.
He said the President’s address to the nation will be the major highlight of the celebrations.
The ZDF Community Assistance Week, he said, will be held from 27 to 31 July 2026, and will culminate in the handover of completed projects constructed by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in collaboration with partners to beneficiaries.
“Regarding the 2026 Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day Celebrations, the nation is informed that preparations for the event, which is set to be held at Rufaro Stadium, are underway. The event will be held on August 11, 2026,” said Minister Soda.
“The Address to the nation by His Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces will be the major highlight of the Celebrations.
“The ZDF Community Assistance Week is the prelude to the 2026 ZDF Day Celebrations and will be carried out from 27 to 31 July 2026.
“During this period, completed projects constructed by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, working together with partners, will be handed over to beneficiaries,” said Dr Soda.
