Online Reporter
Harmony Agere, Online Writer
In an emotional moment at the burial of national hero, Dr Sydney Gata at the national shrine this morning, President Mnangagwa, as per tradition, handed over the national flag to the late ZESA Executive Chairman’s widow, Honourable Angeline Gata.
The gesture, steeped in symbolism and tradition, signified the nation’s deepest appreciation for Dr Gata’s lifetime of service.
As Amai Gata, who is also the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, received the flag from the Head of State, mourners stood in silent reverence, recognising a tradition that embodies honour, gratitude and unity.
In Zimbabwe, the act of handing over the national flag to a family member at a hero’s burial goes far beyond formality.
It serves as an official acknowledgement of heroic service, under the National Heroes Act, reserved for citizens whose work has profoundly advanced the nation.
The flag, previously draped over his casket, becomes a personal token of national gratitude, a tangible symbol of how the person’s service touched millions.
Mirroring military and state traditions around the world, the ritual marks the handover of legacy from the public to the private, from the State to the family.
Ultimately, the moment President Mnangagwa handed the flag to Amai Gata was a public expression of mourning and pride, linking the loss of a national hero to the enduring spirit of a nation that remembers, respects, and never forgets.
