Online Reporter
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Reporter
PREPARATIONS for the 2025 Heroes and Defence Forces Day commemorations have commenced, with plans already in motion to honour the country’s liberation heroes and recognise outstanding Zimbabweans for their exceptional service.
Addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the main Heroes Day event will take place at the National Heroes Acre in Harare on August 11, with simultaneous commemorations across all 10 provinces.
“The Government of Zimbabwe is gearing up for the 2025 Heroes Day Commemorations, which are scheduled for Monday August 11, 2025.
“The main event will take place at the National Heroes Acre in Harare, with provincial commemorations being held concurrently across the country.
“Preparations have already commenced, including the compilation of an updated list of National Heroes and Heroines, with 222 families expected to attend the main event,” he said.
Provincial events will enable broad national participation, ensuring that communities across the country can honour their local heroes.
This will be followed by Defence Forces Day commemorations on August 12 at Rufaro Stadium in Harare.
This year’s celebrations will run under the theme, “Zimbabwe Defence Forces: Guaranteeing a Conducive Environment for the Attainment of Vision 2030”.
Dr Muswere said festivities on the day would include a military parade, equipment displays, performances from entertainment groups and a soccer match between the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Select Team and a regional select side.
The celebrations would be preceded by a Community Assistance Week.
In addition to the commemorative events, Cabinet also approved the Proposed Honours and Awards for 2025, which will be conferred during the Heroes Day ceremony.
“The Government of Zimbabwe has shortlisted three exceptional individuals for conferment with honours and awards at this year’s ceremony, which will coincide with the National Heroes Day commemorations,” Dr Muswere said.
“The recipients include Dr Vladimir Shubin, former head of the Africa Section of the Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee, who will receive the Royal Order of Munhumutapa; Chidhudhu Innocent, a teenager who bravely rescued two children from a burning house in Bindura, who will be awarded the Silver Cross of Zimbabwe; and Dr Madeline Nyamwanza, the first female African medical doctor in Zimbabwe, who will receive the Robert Gabriel Mugabe Commendation Award for Service in Human Capital Development”.
Dr Muswere reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to honour the country’s war veterans with 2 000 eligible veterans of the liberation struggle to be awarded Independence Medals through the Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution.
In addition, distinguished civil servants will be recognised for their contribution to national development, with medals set to be gazetted and issued in phases.
