Remembering our heroes

Herald Reporters—
Thousands of Zimbabweans are today expected to converge at various provincial and district centres countrywide to remember and pay respect to all gallant sons and daughters of the soil, both living and dead. Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, whose ministry is overseeing preparations for the commemorations, yesterday said the stage was set for the 36th National Heroes Day celebrations, whose main event will be taking place at the national shrine in Harare where 109 heroes and eight heroines are interred.

President Mugabe will preside over the main event. “It’s all systems go and we are expecting that people will come in their numbers to respect all those who contributed to the independence of this country,” said Minister Kasukuwere.

He said many people died for the country and Heroes Day commemorations were one of the many ways of remembering and honouring the sacrifices they made to emancipate the country from white colonial rule.

He urged Zimbabweans from all walks of life to support the event. “We are calling up everybody, the clergy and all citizens to come and join the nation and His Excellency in observing the Heroes Day.” Minister Kasukuwere said the President will visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and interact with relatives of heroes interred at the national shrine.

He said Provincial Affairs ministers were expected to read the President’s speech in their respective provinces as per tradition. Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs Miriam Chikukwa last Friday said her province was ready for today’s event.

She said people would be ferried from the usual pick-up points to the national shrine. “We are going to have 25 buses for Harare and people are going to be picked from their usual pick-up points,” said Minister Chikukwa.

She said although all provinces were having their commemorations at provincial level, there could be other people who might want to join the President at the main event in Harare.

In respect to that, Minister Chikukwa said each province was allocated a bus to ferry people to Harare. She said the programme was expected to start by 9:30 am. The police and the defence forces will provide entertainment as well as other invited artistes. In Masvingo, various activities have been lined up in the provincial capital together with the seven administrative districts across the province.

The main celebrations will be held at Masvingo Provincial Heroes Acre where top Government and Zanu-PF officials led by Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Shuvai Mahofa will be in attendance.

Sen Mahofa yesterday said proceedings to mark Heroes Day will start at 8am with war veterans marching to the provincial shrine where she will read the President’s speech. Former Masvingo Governor and Psychomotor Activities Minister Josaya Hungwe will inspect the guard of honour in place of Sen Mahofa who has not fully recovered from ill-health.

Sen Mahofa will then lead in the laying of wreaths on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before meeting relatives of over 50 heroes and heroines interred at the provincial shrine. Sen Mahofa said commemorations in Masvingo will be completed by a soccer match pencilled for Mucheke Stadium. The build-up to Heroes Day started on Saturday night with the hosting of Miss Heroes at the Civic Centre in Masvingo.