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Blessings Chidakwa
Zimpapers Elections Desk
IT is in the character of very few men to honour without envy a comrade who has served diligently his or her country.
Such is President Mnangagwa who has been correcting Zimbabwe’s historical omissions by bestowing honour to deserving heroes who were previously overlooked.
Under President Mnangagwa, hero statuses were accorded posthumously to the late Cdes James Chikerema, the first ZAPU vice president and ZANU founding father, the Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole.
Cde Chikerema died on March 22, 2006 and Cde Sithole passed on in December 2000.
President Mnangagwa, then a minister, reportedly told his family that at the right time corrections would be made. Apart from honouring heroes, a new norm has also emerged under the Second Republic that of erecting statues in honour of the country’s own heroes as is the trend elsewhere in the world.
One such iconic statue is that of Mbuya Nehanda a bronze monument of a Zimbabwean Shona spirit medium and heroine of the 1896-1897 First Chimurenga war against British colonists, that is erected at the intersection of Samora Machel Avenue and Julius Nyerere Way in Harare’s Central Business District, and is turning to be a tourist attraction as people both locals and foreigners appreciate the country’s history.
In the past, the country’s heroes were negatively portrayed as villains while colonisers like Cecil John Rhodes were honoured through monuments, but that historical aberration has been corrected, thanks to President Mnangagwa.
In another score to preserve the country’s liberation history, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, announced during a recent Post Cabinet meeting that two statues are set to be erected for the late former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe and the late Vice President, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo.
The statues will be erected at two separate points in Harare in recognition of their roles during the liberation struggle while the late nationalist and also another first Vice President of ZAPU, Dr Tichafa Samuel Parirenyatwa, will also be honoured with a statue.
Former President Mugabe’s statue will be erected at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, while that of Dr Nkomo would be at the intersection of Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo Expressway and Glenara roads.
“The nation is further advised that in recognition of the roles played by Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, who selflessly dedicated their lives for the liberation of Zimbabwe, Cabinet approved the erection of statues in Harare,” she said.
“The statue of Cde R.G. Mugabe will be erected at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, while the second, Dr J.M.N. Nkomo statue will be erected at the trumpet interchange at the intersection of Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo and Glenara Roads.
“In honour of the late nationalist and first black medical doctor and physician and first Vice President of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), the late Dr Tichafa Samuel Parirenyatwa, a statue will be erected at an appropriate entrance to the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
“Heany Junction, the place where his body was dumped having been killed at Shangani, will also be renamed after him and a granite pedestal erected to signify and memorialise the site.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said Government would also continue with the process of awarding medals to war veterans in recognition of their role in the liberation and development of the country.
The Second Republic, she said, had also seen fit to confer non-combatant cadres and war collaborators with the commemorative Independence Medal in Bronze following the successful vetting exercise by the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs in 2022.
Government has also bestowed honours and awards on four individuals and organisations for their service to the nation in their different fields.
“As the nation may recall, the Second Republic has since 2021 consistently honoured the nation’s sons and daughters of the soil and other deserving persons who have been found befitting of recognition.
“Bestowing honours and awards encourages individuals to strive to excel in serving the nation, and defending the country. The underlying ethos behind the honours and awards is to create an increasing pool of inspirational role models for the wider citizenry.
“This is critical when one considers the challenges that the youth have to overcome in this era of dangerous social vices,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
President Mnangagwa has on countless times reiterated that the Second Republic will forever accord the highest respect and honour to liberation war heroes and heroines for their contribution to the independence of the country.
While burying the national hero, Cde Wereki Sandiyani, whose Chimurenga name was Cde Phillip Gabela at National Heroes Acre, the President emphasised on the need to honour the country’s heroes and heroines.
“My Government, under the Second Republic shall never forget our heroes but will always grant them the respect, honour and recognition they truly deserve and are worthy of,” said the President.
“Their deaths, injuries, wounds and torture marks remind us that our independence and democracy is hard-won and precious. Let us never take it for granted; let us defend and guard it jealously.
“As a nation that has self-belief and a rich heritage of bravery and fortitude; through hard work and determination, we will prosper and realise sustainable development and prosperity for the people of our great country.”
President Mnangagwa has made it his administration policy to honour the country’s heroes, not only the departed, but those who are still living who would have contributed to society and mankind.
In that regard, Government also bestowed honours and awards on four individuals and organisations for their service to the nation in their different fields.
Among those honoured last week were Dr Sikhulile Moyo, the Angel of Hope Foundation, Ambassador Mary Mubi and Dr Agnes Mahomva.
For the dear departed heroes like the legendary General Mtshane Khumalo, who commanded the Imbizo Regiment, under King Lobengula, that defeated the Allan Wilson Patrol at the Battle of Pupu on December 10, 1893, a monument has been built at the site.
Apart from the Pupu Memorial Site, work is also in progress at the shrine in Gutu with similar projects having been lined elsewhere in the country.
Online Reporter