Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
FRIENDS of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle has undertaken a major clean-up of the Harare Provincial Heroes Acre ahead of tomorrow’s Independence Day celebrations.
The organisation, an affiliate of the ruling Zanu PF party, operates as a registered private voluntary organisation dedicated to preserving and immortalising the legacy of the liberation struggle for future generations.
Speaking on the sidelines of the pre-Independence Day clean-up exercise on Wednesday, the organisatio’s national spokesperson, Cde Takemore Mazuruse, said the initiative was a tribute to the gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who laid the foundation of the nation through their courageous fight against colonial rule.
He said their sacrifices remain etched in the country’s history, forming the bedrock upon which modern Zimbabwe stands.
“As we mark 46 years of Independence, we honour the gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who gave their lives towards the liberation of this country,” he said.
“We hope that even as we progress as a nation, we continue to remember those who laid the foundation of this nation through their sacrifices. Our liberation didn’t come easy; lives were lost, and some were maimed as we fought for our independence.
“Independence Day is thus an important reminder of those invaluable sacrifices, and we are proud to continue celebrating these heroes by beautifying their shrines through cleaning and landscaping. We are grateful to all stakeholders, including the ruling party structures, for supporting this initiative.”
FOVL’s founder and chairman, Cde Wellington Charuka, a ZANU-PF member whose late father was a war veteran, said the organisation, which has been in operation for the past four years, started through a dream where he was told to start a movement designed to respect the memory of the departed heroes through beautifying shrines.
“FOVLS started as a dream while I was in my rural home in Zaka,” he said. “We started off working in Masvingo province before we were referred to the national office, where we started working with the party’s Harare province, until we got all the party approvals leading to official registration.
Cde Charuka said their vision was to complement Government efforts towards honouring liberation war heroes by educating the public about the country’s history, as well as keeping the national shrines in good shape.
