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Chronicle Reporters
THOUSANDS of people are expected to attend this year’s edition of the Heroes and Defence Forces Day commemorations in Matabeleland South and Midlands provinces.
Preparations for the two national events are at an advanced stage.
People will gather at the Matabeleland South Provincial Heroes Acre in Gwanda Town on Monday to commemorate Heroes Day. Twenty-eight provincial heroes are buried at the provincial shrine. Of the 28 provincial heroes, 24 are males and four are females.
Defence Forces Day Celebrations would be held at Phelandaba Stadium on Tuesday. The Matabeleland South provincial committee responsible for State functions yesterday held its final meeting in Gwanda Town ahead of the commemorations.
The meeting was chaired by Gwanda District Administrator, Gladys Zizhou, who was representing the Provincial Administrator, Midard Khumalo.
Various committees, including catering, security, entertainment, transport, fundraising and that of steering the mobilising of people gave reports on the progress made on the preparations of the two functions.
The committees’ reports revealed that preparations were moving well and that the province was prepared for the commemorations. Members of the Zimbabwe National Army have also arrived in town.
The fundraising committee reported that it had $1,780 cash and other donations including 700 kg of game meat, a sheep donated by a local businessperson and beef worth $1,600. Follow ups to the letters sent to potential donors are still being made.
A number of entertainment groups have also confirmed participation at the events. School children and the army band would also provide entertainment.
In an interview after the meeting, Zizhou said they were happy with the progress of preparations on the ground.
“We’re more than ready for the commemorations as a province. Mobilisation of people has been done and we’ve received quite a number of donations. All necessary preparations have been done and we have also spruced up the shrine,” she said.
Commemorations would also be held in different venues at district level throughout the province.
Zizhou expressed hope that the spirit of unity displayed so far would continue for the success of the events.
Midlands Province has raised $10,000 in cash and pledges towards the hosting of this year’s Heroes Day and Defence Forces commemorations.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Cde Jason Machaya, said the province was delighted with the response and support from the corporate world. He especially expressed gratitude to Fordcon Construction Company, a beneficiary of the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme which donated $1,000 towards the hosting of the two events.
“We’ve reached the target of $10, 000 but I’m not really sure of the cash at hand. Today (yesterday) we received a huge donation from Fordcon Construction. They gave us $1,000 cash. We’re really proud of them and all the other companies that donated towards this worthy cause,” he said.
Cde Machaya said preparations for the event were progressing well and more donations were still welcome.
He appealed to the people of the Midlands to turn up in their numbers on Monday at the Midlands Provincial Heroes Acre in Gweru and celebrate the nation’s gallant sons and daughters who sacrificed their lives to liberate the country from colonial forces. The provincial shrine is the traditional venue for the yearly event.
Cde Machaya said it was commendable that even young people, the born frees, were now appreciative of the role played by former freedom fighters in liberating the country.
He will read the President’s speech and spend time with relatives of heroes whose remains are interred at the Provincial Heroes Acre.
Families of the heroes will then join the provincial leadership for lunch at the Gweru Poly.
Cde Machaya said the province was going to slaughter five beasts to feed the people expected to attend the event.
Fordcon Construction Company Managing Director, Fordson Ndlovu, said they were honoured to play a part in honouring the country’s heroes.
“We’re enjoying peace and tranquillity in the country that came about after a protracted war of liberation against Ian Smith and his Rhodesian forces. All we can do to show gratitude is honour our gallant fighters,” said Ndlovu who is a graduate of the Zimbabwe National Youth Service.
Meanwhile, the government is erecting tombstones and slabs on the heroes’ graves at the Midlands Provincial Heroes Acre as part of the preparations for the celebrations.
Amos Zevure, curator militaria in the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe said the process started in earnest this week.
He said they had started sprucing up Midlands Provincial Heroes Acre by clearing the grass and shrubs before putting tombstones.
“As part of the preparations for this year’s heroes celebrations we’re slabbing the graves at Midlands Provincial Heroes Acre in Gweru. We’re levelling the ground and putting tombstones.
“We’re creating more space by extending the area. So far it has been filled with 205 graves and we want to add 135 more,” said Zevure.
The heroes’ acre was established in 1986 following the burial of former Midlands Governor, Cde Benson Ndemera, on February 2, 1986.
To date a total of 176 heroes have been laid to rest at the Midlands Heroes Acre. Only 16 are female heroines.
In 2013, during the burial of Cde Charlotte Msipa, the wife of former Midlands Governor, Cde Cephas Msipa, President Robert Mugabe described the heroes’ acre as the most presentable provincial heroes acre in the country.
The government honours the heroes by burying them at heroes’ acres. The country has three categories of heroes acres, namely; district and provincial shrines and the National Heroes Acre in Harare.
Every August, President Mugabe leads the nation in paying respect to the former freedom fighters. The main celebrations are held in Harare at the National Heroes Acre.
Online Reporter