Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika and Gibson Mhaka
Zimbabweans have been called upon to turn out in their numbers at the National Heroes Acre today to mark this year’s Heroes Day commemorations, whose main event will be headlined by President Mnangagwa.
This year’s commemorations are being held under the theme; “Lest We Forget”.
Yesterday, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe toured the national shrine and expressed satisfaction with preparations ahead of today’s event.
“As you can see, our preparations are on course, and all we are now waiting for is tomorrow (today), and we encourage our people to come out in numbers as this day is important for us as we commemorate the sacrifices of the people who fought for this country’s independence.
We encourage our people to set aside anything they had planned to do and take time to celebrate those who sacrificed their lives for our liberation.
“All the logistical arrangements have been made, and we are prepared to host our people tomorrow,” Minister Kazembe said.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe (centre), Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Reverend Paul Damasane (left), and director of Strategic Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Mr Mike Masaka (right) assess the preparations at the National Heroes Acre ahead yesterday of the Heroes Day commemorations today. – Picture: Farai Machivenyika.
The Minister added that various entertainment groups have lined up to perform at the main event, including Indosakusa, an imbube and gospel music ensemble from Bulawayo, Afro-jazz artist Diana Samukange and Sungura super star, Alick Macheso.
“As I have said, we are trying to bring a commemorative and celebratory kind of mood, so we encourage our people to come as we honour and remember our gallant sons and daughters.
“We want to celebrate the victories and successes that came as a result of our independence. There are a lot of things we have achieved and managed to do as a country, things that we could not have done without our independence. So, I want to urge people from all walks of life to come so that we celebrate together,” he said.
He added that other commemorations will be held at provincial and district heroes’ acres, while war veterans that took part in the liberation struggle will be awarded independence medals at the provincial commemorations.
Ministers of Provincial Affairs and Devolution will read the President’s speech at their respective ceremonies.
Meanwhile, families of national heroes interred at the national shrine took their time yesterday to lay wreaths at the graves of their loved ones.
Ms Jennifer Zvinavashe, sister to the late first Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander, General Vitalis Zvinavashe, said her brother was a loving person who always wanted to unite their family.
Ms Jennifer Zvinavashe, sister to late national hero General (Retired) Vitalis Zvinavashe, lays a wreath on the grave of her brother while other family members await their turn yesterday. — Picture: Tinashe Chitwanga.
“I feel emotional when I visit this place, because my brother was a loving person who did not discriminate against anyone, even in our extended family. He treated us equally whether one was an uncle, a niece or a nephew,” she said.
Ms Zvinavashe said she was the first one to meet the late General when he returned home from the liberation war.
The late General Zvinavashe died on March 10, 2009 and was buried at the national shrine.
Ms Dorris Gumbochuma, a granddaughter of the late Noah Gumbochuma, one of the first Zanla cadres to receive military training in the l960s said she was happy with the contribution by her late grandfather.
“We grew up hearing stories about his contribution to the country’s liberation, and I am happy that the Government recognised his contribution by honouring him as a national hero,” she said.
Mrs Loice Chingono, the widow of the late Major-General Herbert Chingono, who died on March 15 this year, said her family was still coming to terms with their loss.
“It’s a bit heavy for us, as a family, because we lost the General a few months ago, but it is special in its own way because when we reflect the on his work over the years, I mean the road he worked and ending up here, is special because it was his wish, and it was granted, and as a family we accepted it, and we are so happy. of course, it’s painful, we don’t have him in the physical, but in the spirit, of course we do.
“We always remember him, and he died for the country, actually and this is where the story ends, so I’m very proud to have been married to Herbert, because he fought, he walked a long walk, and this is where he ended up, which is very special to all of us, and to Zimbabwe as a whole and it gives us strength to pull through and move on,” she said.
In Bulawayo, the ceremony will be conducted by the Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Judith Ncube, who will read President Mnangagwa’s speech.
At the Bulawayo Provincial Heroes Acre yesterday, the quiet shrine was abuzz with activity as families swept away overgrown grass, cleaned tombstones and tidied the graves of their loved ones, preparing the final resting places of the fallen for the national day of remembrance.
Officials from the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ), which is the custodian of the provincial shrine, were also on the ground cleaning the graves and tombstones, with some of the monuments receiving a fresh coat of paint.
Mrs Chiedzo Ncube (59), widow of the late liberation hero Cde Mbizo Fabian Ncube, who died on April 15, 2022, said Heroes Day brought mixed emotions as it reminded her of both her husband’s sacrifice and the circumstances surrounding his death.
Cde Ncube died in a road accident while returning from work at Mbizo Barracks.
“My husband was involved in an accident while coming from work at Mbizo Barracks. It was very painful. I received a phone call telling me that he had been involved in an accident and that I should go to United Bulawayo Hospitals. When I got there, I was told that he had passed away,” she said.
For Mrs Ncube, Heroes Day therefore carries a deeply personal meaning.
“Although Heroes Day is a time for the nation to remember those who fought for the liberation of this country, for us as families it can also be a painful reminder of the loved ones we lost.
“But today, I am happy that my husband is among the heroes and heroines who are being remembered as the country celebrates Heroes Day. As a family, including my children, grandchildren and other relatives, we will be here to join other families in remembering our fallen heroes,” she said.
The commemorations also provide an opportunity for families to appreciate Government’s efforts to preserve the memory of the liberation generation.
Mr Nkosi Moyo (53), son of the late heroine Cde Maria Majama Khumalo, who died on May 2, 2021, expressed gratitude to Government for providing a tombstone for his mother’s grave.
“We want to thank the Government for providing us with a tombstone. It is the Government that did everything for us, and we are happy as a family that our mother will be remembered among other heroes and heroines for the role she played during the liberation struggle,” he said.
Mr Moyo said his mother’s recognition was particularly meaningful given that many of those remembered at the country’s heroes’ shrines were men.
“It makes us proud as a family to see our mother being honoured alongside other heroes and heroines. Women also played an important role during the liberation struggle, and it is important that their contribution is remembered and passed on to future generations.
“We also want to thank the Government for keeping this place as a revered shrine. As families of heroes and heroines, we appreciate these efforts because they ensure that the sacrifices of our parents are not forgotten,” he said.
For some families, however, the preservation of graves remains a concern, with several liberation war heroes and heroines still buried in unmarked graves.
Mrs Norah Mzimbeni (70), widow of the late Cde Nicholas Mathwasa, who died on August 13, 2013, said she was happy that her husband would be remembered on Heroes Day but appealed for assistance to ensure that all graves at the shrine were properly marked.
