Online Reporter
Lloyd Makonya
Correspondent
AS Zimbabwe prepares to commemorate Heroes Day next week, the Manicaland Provincial Heroes Acre is undergoing a significant transformation, with the installation of a borehole and improved water infrastructure marking a major milestone in the preservation and development of one of the province’s most revered national shrines.
The latest developments include the sinking of a solarised borehole and the installation of two 5 000-litre water storage tanks, a project expected to greatly improve water availability at the shrine, which annually hosts thousands of people during Heroes Day commemorations as well as provincial burial ceremonies for liberation war heroes and heroines.
For years, lack of a reliable water supply was one of the major challenges affecting the upkeep and future development of the shrine.
The new borehole is expected to enhance maintenance of the expansive grounds, while laying the foundation for future infrastructure such as modern water-borne ablution facilities.
At present, the shrine relies on one Blair toilet, facilities that many stakeholders believe no longer reflect the dignity and national significance of a site dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives for Zimbabwe’s independence.
The borehole was sunk through the facilitation of the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, following years of appeals from various stakeholders, including war veterans who have consistently advocated for the upgrading of the provincial shrine.
National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ), Eastern Region Director, Mr Farai Chabata, hailed the development as a landmark achievement in the preservation of liberation heritage.
“This is a welcome development for the province, and I would like to commend our hardworking Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, together with the Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Abiot Maronge, for their tireless efforts in ensuring that water is finally supplied to the shrine,” said Mr Chabata.
“Manicaland continues to lead the way in preserving Zimbabwe’s liberation heritage. This development demonstrates Government’s commitment to honouring our heroes and heroines. We are optimistic that this will be the beginning of even more improvements so that our provincial shrine becomes a model for the rest of the country.”
In addition to the water project, NMMZ has intensified rehabilitation works ahead of the national commemorations.
The institution is overseeing the installation of black granite tombstones donated by families of the deceased, while simultaneously repairing cracked headstones to improve the overall appearance and integrity of the graves.
The Manicaland Provincial Heroes Acre is the final resting place of 455 provincial heroes and heroines whose sacrifices contributed to Zimbabwe’s liberation.
Statistics from NMMZ show that 263 graves have now been fitted with black granite tombstones, while 140 have been upgraded with cement slab finishes. Only 52 graves remain as soil mounds, highlighting the steady progress being made in improving the shrine’s standards.
Of the 455 burials, 380 are male and 75 are female, reflecting the contribution made by both men and women during the liberation struggle.
Manicaland occupies a unique place in Zimbabwe’s liberation history.
Owing to its strategic location along the eastern border with Mozambique, a key ally during the liberation war.
The province served as one of the principal corridors through which freedom fighters crossed for military training, logistics and operational support.
The province consequently has the highest number of provincial heroes and heroines in the country, making the continued development and preservation of the Provincial Heroes Acre, not only a matter of infrastructure, but also a national obligation to safeguard Zimbabwe’s liberation legacy for future generations.
As Heroes Day draws nearer, the improvements at the shrine stand as a visible symbol of Government’s continued commitment to preserving the memory of those who paid the ultimate price for the nation’s freedom while ensuring that the site remains a place of dignity, reflection and national pride.
Lest We Forget.
