Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
EVERY August, Cde Apollonia Tongogara joins others who make the journey to the Midlands Provincial Heroes Acre to honour their dearly departed.
Cde Tongogara — a restrictee — is the widow of Cde Ernest Tongogara who died on 23 May 1995 and was interred at the Midlands Provincial Heroes Acre in Gweru.
Cde Ernest Tongogara was the younger brother of the late National Hero, Cde Josiah Tongogara who was buried at the National Heroes Acre.
Zimbabweans commemorated the 42nd National Heroes’ Day last Monday.
The National Heroes Day is a public holiday that is observed on the second Monday of each August in honour of Zimbabwe’s liberation war heroes and heroines.
At the Midlands Provincial Heroes Acre, there are 243 heroes and heroines buried.
Of these 214 are men and 29 women.
Cde Tongogara, in an interview at the grave of her husband on Monday last week, said the Heroes Day commemorations is an important day for her and her family.
“My husband died on May 23, 1995 and was buried on May 30, 1995 here at the Provincial Heroes Acre in Gweru. I have been coming here every year and this is year 27.
The day means a great deal to us. It is an immeasurable honour to have my husband’s life and work recognised by having a day set aside to remember him and all the other heroes of our nation,” she said.
She said she feels highly honoured when people throng the heroes’ acres across the country to honour the country’s heroes and heroines.
“We come here for our hero, my husband who was the younger brother of General Tongogara.
It’s an honour to mix and mingle with other widows, children and relatives of heroes and heroines and so, we have to be here with the children and grandchildren for the commemorations,” said Cde Tongogara.
She said her husband left behind two children Ronald and Rudo.
“We now have four grandchildren. I’m a restrictee and I am a retired teacher. I taught Home Economics for 20 years at Mkoba High School in Gweru and I’m looking forward to engaging in farming,” said Cde Tongogara.
She took time to thank the Second Republic for the recognition of Cde Ndabaningi Sithole and Cde James Chikerema as national Heroes.
She said President Mnangagwa was a people’s leader who is determined to make a difference for this and the coming generations.
“It’s very important that despite whatever happens along the way we must always honour those who fought for the liberation of this country and we thank the Second Republic for their recognition of the two cadres Cde Ndabaningi Sithole and Cde Chikerema.
President Mnangagwa should be commended for this gesture which is an indication of his dedication to giving honour and respect where it’s due.
“This Second Republic under the leadership of President Mnangagwa should be commended for being people-oriented. I am very grateful and happy for the families of the heroes that have been recognised,” she said.
President Mnangagwa on Monday conferred, posthumously, national hero status to the founding leader of Zanu, Reverend Sithole and nationalist Cde Chikerema.
Reverend Sithole died in 2000, while Cde Chikerema died in 2006.
President Mnangagwa also extended the same honour to Brigadier-General Chrispen Masuku, Rabelani Choeni, Elliot Gwabe, Professor Sheunesu Mupepereki, George Kahari, Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu, and Stanley Matunhira.
He said the Second Republic was committed to giving a holistic account of the country’s war of liberation.
“We are therefore rising to the occasion and recognising other heroes and heroines such as the late Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole and the late comrade James Chikerema for their historical contributions, despite their areas of weaknesses, with regards to the observance of the correct line of the revolution,” he said at the main Heroes Day commemorations at the national heroes acre.
Online Reporter