adminrespectively.
We are grateful to both the living and fallen heroes as well as to our defence forces for the freedom that we enjoy today.
Thirty-two years ago, it was a different case altogether.
The Heroes’ Acre is the burial shine to 93 sons and daughters of the soil who fought for the liberation of the country.
The towering larger than life bronze statue is known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The story behind the tomb is that soon after the war, according to tradition, some of the soil from the graves of sons and daughters who perished in the war of liberation was brought “home” and buried in that particular tomb, as a way of bringing the spirit of the deceased back to its people.
The swag team spoke to shrine’s curator, Rumbidzai Bvira, who expressed the importance of coming to the shrine and museum as it gives appreciation to war liberators.
“It is important for the ‘born frees’ to take the time to visit this place. Everyone is welcome.
“Walking around the museum is more like a walk down memory lane.
“You get to see the way of life and struggles of the people during the journey to independence,” she explained.
She added that the artistic variations depict the stages of the liberation struggle until the time we attained freedom.
“The walls you see are an imitation of Great Zimbabwe and Khami Ruins.
“Did you know that the statue of the Unknown Soldier is made of bronze and the tower is the highest point of the shrine and can be seen from several parts of Harare,” said Bvira.
The team later visited the gallery and was captivated by a section that symbolises a tired and injured comrade who despite being in a really bad state was determined to soldier on and liberate the country.
The section shows a thorny ladder that the soldier had to climb together with other obstacles like wild animals, hunger and uncertainty about the future yet it had to be done.
“The statue represents a war fighters who, despite all odds being against him, was determined to fight for Zimbabwe.
“The flag hung upon the thorny ladder reflects that freedom that had to be obtained through suffering,” explained the tour guide.
Zimbabwean history lessons become easier to understand after visiting this place.
This is due to the fact that the road to freedom from the colonial days is properly narrated and illustrated with all crucial details put in a correct sequence.
There are also various machinery, uniforms and other weapons they used during the war that are mounted on the walls and some displayed in the museum.
The social life of the comrades is also shown and not a lot of people know it but the families of freedom fighters were incorporated into refugee camps in and around neighbouring countries.
There is information in the museum of how those refugee camps were attacked constantly by the colonialists.
All the information about the massacres is given in detail
The museum also carries information in pictures and early documents and about how freedom was then gained and how the post-independence Zimbabwe came to be.
l Special thanks to Wamambo Wilderness Safaris who made this tour possible. They are sponsoring the Cool Travel Swag Team’s trips in and outside Harare.
Online Reporter