President honours non-combatants in Matabeleland North

TOTAL of 103 former liberationco.zw struggle non-combatants and war collaborators from Matabeleland North Province on Monday received Presidential Independence Bronze Medals in recognition of their sacrifices and contribution during the war.

The medals were handed over to the recipients by the Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Richard Moyo, during the Heroes Day commemorations held at the Lupane Provincial Heroes Acre.

Thousands of people among them senior members of the uniformed forces, Government officials, traditional leaders and politicians, attended the event.

There were 32 non-combatant cadres and 71 war collaborators.

“These brave young men and women crossed Zimbabwe’s borders for the purposes of participating in the liberation struggle but due to circumstances beyond their control, did not receive military training and remained in transit camps awaiting training until the end of the war,” reads the citation for the 32 non-combatant cadres.

“It was not their fault that they were not trained although they had committed themselves to the struggle by joining Zanla and Zipra forces.

“They were subject to the same punishment as war veterans under the Rhodesian law and their camps were susceptible to attacks by the enemy.”
According to the citation, war collaborators were logistics and information arteries of the brutal liberation struggle. These cadres executed their role diligently and many lost their lives and limbs in the process.

“They were consistently and persistently closely linked with the operations of the war veterans through any one or more of the following actions, fighting as, though not having been trained as a war veteran, carrying out reconnaissance activities and providing information, delivering food, medication and clothing to war veterans, carrying war veterans’ equipment from one point to another and tending or giving sanctuary to wounded war veterans,” reads the citation.

“It has never escaped the Second Republic’s attention that these two categories of veterans of the liberation struggle exhibited unparalleled resolve, sacrifice and determination in the pursuit of national interests, which should be recognised.”

Recipients of the awards expressed gratitude to President Mnangagwa, saying for long, they thought they were a forgotten lot despite having risked their lives.

“This is an emotional moment for me. All along we thought our sacrifices were of no value but now our caring President has wiped our tears and we feel so important today, especially on a day like this when we are commemorating Heroes Day,” said Senator Alice Dube.

Another recipient, Mrs Happiness Sibanda, who crossed the border at the tender age of 15 in 1978, said she was happy but hurt at the same time.
“I have received this medal today and I am grateful to the President but I am also hurting inside because some of my comrades are not here, they are still in the bush and they never got to see an independent Zimbabwe,” she said.

“This is why we are saying we must jealously preserve and protect our hard-fought independence,” said Mrs Sibanda.

The Lupane Provincial Shrine has 33 veterans of the armed struggle interred. Renowned Lupane businessperson, Cde Leonard Moyo, is the latest hero to be buried at the shrine.

Families of the heroes and heroines, led by Minister Moyo laid flowers on the graves of their loved ones. Minister Moyo took time to interact with families of heroes who attended the commemorations.