Online Reporter
Online Reporter
Friends of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle (FOVLS) has undertaken a major clean-up of the Harare Provincial Heroes Acre ahead of this Saturday’s Independence Day celebrations, in a symbolic gesture honouring the country’s liberation war heroes — both the departed and those still living — whose selfless sacrifices paved the way for Zimbabwe’s freedom.
The organisation, an affiliate of the ruling ZANU PF party, operates as a registered private voluntary organisation dedicated to preserving and immortalising the legacy of the liberation struggle for future generations.
Speaking on the sidelines of the pre-Independence Day clean-up exercise on Wednesday, FOVLS national spokesperson, Cde Takemore Mazuruse, said the initiative was a tribute to the gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who laid the foundation of the nation through their courageous fight against colonial rule.
He said their sacrifices remain etched in the country’s history, forming the bedrock upon which modern Zimbabwe stands.
“As we mark 46 years of Independence, we honour the gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who gave their lives towards the liberation of this country,” he said.
“Our hope is that even as we progress as a nation, we continue to remember those who laid the foundation of this nation through their sacrifices. Our liberation didn’t come easy; lives were lost and some were maimed as we fought for our independence.
“Independence Day is thus an important reminder of those invaluable sacrifices and we are proud to continue celebrating these heroes by beautifying their shrines through cleaning and landscaping. We are grateful to all stakeholders, including the ruling party structures for supporting this initiative.”
FOVLS founder and chairman, Cde Wellington Charuka, a ZANU PF member whose late father was a war veteran, said the organisation, which has been in operation for the past four years, started through a dream where he was told to start a movement designed to respect the memory of the departed heroes through beautifying shrines.
“FOVLS started as a dream while I was in my rural home in Zaka,” he said. “We started off working in Masvingo province before we were then referred to the national office where we started working with the party’s Harare province until we got all the party approvals leading to official registration.
“We have previously done some grave rehabilitation of 52 graves at the Harare Provincial Heroes Acre as well cleaning of the general environs. In preparation for the Independence Day celebrations to be held this Saturday across Zimbabwe, with the main celebrations scheduled for Maphisa, Matobo District in Gwanda, Matabeleland South Province, we are happy to have undertaken yet another clean up as a way to honour our heroes.”
Cde Charuka said their vision was to complement Government efforts towards honouring liberation war heroes by educating the public about the country’s history, as well as keeping the national shrines in good shape.
“We notice the efforts by our Government to honour our liberation war heroes through various welfare programmes and we saw it fit to play our small part by complimentarily beautifying the shrines where the departed heroes are laid to rest through cleaning and landscaping across Zimbabwe,” he said.
“We have already liaised with the National Museums and Monuments who have given us data regarding work to be done at these shrines and we are happy that we have already visited the Mashonaland West Provincial Heroes Acre where we intend to undertake another clean-up and graves rehabilitation exercise.”
Cde Charuka said FOVLS had registered success through the shrines cleaning up and public education work on liberation war history, as shown by the achievements registered with the Wednesday clean up at Harare Provincial Heroes Acre.
“We have seen the value of our shrines cleaning up as well as public education on the history and foundation of our country through the liberation war and we are encouraged to continue on the same path,” he said.
“Just like President Mnangagwa has encouraged the use of social media for national good and mobilisation, we have also taken it upon ourselves to go that route while working around the clock to beautify the national shrines.
“Thanks to National Museums and Monuments we already have an idea of how much work needs to be done at shrines around Zimbabwe and are already mobilising resources for that exercise.”
War veteran and FOVLS vice chairperson, Cde Winnet Garufu, said the work of FOVLS was sacrosanct in that it was honouring the memory of the liberation heroes, especially the departed ones buried at various heroes acres around Zimbabwe, as well as those in unmarked graves and represented by the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.
“The departed heroes did not choose to die, they all hoped to see an independent Zimbabwe,” she said. “Because the war had casualties we lost them and the only way we can honour them is through the good work being done by organisations like FOVLS with the support of the party and national leadership, as well as other key stakeholders.
“We are grateful for the unity of purpose that we have witnessed since we started our work and we also want to salute the ruling ZANU PF party led by President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa for continuously remembering our liberation war heroes and reminding this generation about our cherished history anchored in the liberation war.”
FOVLS works with the National Museums and Monuments, ZANU PF party structures, Ministry of War Veterans, the Ministry of Home Affairs, War Veterans League as well as the Environmental Management Agency.
Tinaye Agere