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Herald Reporter
President Mnangagwa yesterday granted a range of honours and awards, including two Gold Crosses of Zimbabwe, the top medal for bravery, and a Royal Order of Munhumutapa, the top medal for non-Zimbabweans.
This happens annually in the lead up to Heroes Day. The awards were listed in a general notice published in a Government Gazette Extraordinary.
Topping the list is the Royal Order of the Munhumutapa awarded to Mr Devnanda “Dave” Popatlal, a Mozambican who played a critical role when Zanu relocated to Maputo during the Liberation War, organising housing and office accommodation, allowing use of his business premises and providing transport, all at considerable risk considering the action taken by the Smith regime against those helping liberation movements.
Mr Popatlal, born in 1942, is the eighth person to be awarded the Royal Order of Munhumutapa, a special award for non-Zimbabweans including heads of Frontline States during the Liberation War who played a crucial role in the liberation of Zimbabwe.
The first five awards were made to President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, President Sir Seretse Khama of Botswana, President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, President Samora Machel of Mozambique and President Augostinho Neto of Angola.
The next award went to Hashim Mbita of Tanzania, who served for 20 years as executive secretary of the Liberation Committee of the Organisation of African Unity.
The last award was to Irish Franciscan priest Father Paschal Slevin.
While a missionary priest at Mount St Mary’s Mission in Hwedza, he helped ZANLA militants to cross into Zambia, including future Vice President General (Retired) Constantino Chiwenga and the late former Air Force Commander and Cabinet Minister Air Marshal (Retired) Perrence Shiri.
The Rhodesian regime deported Father Slevin back to the Republic of Ireland in 1977. After independence, he returned and continued to work tirelessly for the development of Zimbabwe.
There are two awards for the Star of Zimbabwe, an award created by President Mnangagwa to honour exceptional achievements of Zimbabweans across a range of diplomatic, political and many other endeavours.
The Order of the Star of Zimbabwe in Platinum was awarded to former Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Julius Mpande Sibanda and the Order of the Star of Zimbabwe in Bronze was awarded to Black Umfolosi, a highly regarded and famous Zimbabwean musical and artistic group.
The two Gold Crosses of Zimbabwe, the top medal for bravery, were awarded to Sirizani Butau and Jubilee Utsiwegota. The specific acts of bravery will be outlined on the citation when the medals are handed over.
There were two Silver Crosses of Zimbabwe, the second highest bravery award, for Peace Magaya and Luckmore Magaya.
A Commendation Medal, the junior bravery award, went to Dr Joseph Nyika Mushonga.
Besides these medals another large group of those who worked or fought for the liberation of Zimbabwe, including veterans of the Liberation War, have been tracked down as deserving the Independence Medal in Bronze.
Online Reporter